The time for spiritual bypassing is over
New Thought should not be a safe haven for the comfortable
By Rev. Dr. Raymont Anderson
There was a time when those in New Thought — Emma Curtis Hopkins, Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, Ernest Holmes and others — would make bold declarations about living a prosperous life, the nature of God, and emancipation from suffering. They did not water-down what they were teaching to make people comfortable.
Here is a striking example. In 1945, Science of Mind magazine listed The Third Church of Religious Science at the bottom of the church directory and noted it was a “colored church.” This was unacceptable to Religious Science founder Dr. Ernest Holmes who had ordained the minister, Dr. J. Arthur Twyne, and chartered the church. He ensured the magazine, which he had founded, never did that again. Holmes also visited the congregation. He said, “I have been told that too many non-Caucasians attend these lectures. True, there are Caucasians and non-Caucasians in this congregation. But this we must affirm: We are all children of one living God – one God that permeates all, without exception,one intelligence that governs all – and, most important, every man and woman who abides in the universe is a significant entity in the one universal consciousness. Our doors will forever be open to all. Whoever you are, be proud – you are a divine idea in the mind of God.” 1
Holmes later visited Triangular Church of Truth, which affiliated in 1956 with Religious Science. The church was founded by African American Dr. Pearl C. Wood, affectionally known as Mother Pearl. It was there that he surprised the Black congregation by saying, “If she is your mother, then I am your father.” 2
Holmes challenged people. He did not let people be comfortable in their racism and prejudice.
Nor was he politically neutral. In chapter three of “The Beverly Hills Lectures,” he says, “By the way, no metaphysician could ever be a Communist… it is directly contrary to two great laws: the unity in which everything is rooted and the diversity through which everything is expressed. That is the spirit of democracy.”
Yet, if we fast forward to our current state of affairs there are many people in Unity churches and Centers for Spiritual Living centers refusing to discuss systemic racism, white supremacy, global warming, Black Lives Matter, and marriage equality. Why? Because these vital topics, and many others, are labeled as “political” instead of spiritual.
When did equality become a “political” taboo in New Thought? It clearly was not for Ernest Holmes.
Most in New Thought are comfortable singing Let There Be Peace on Earth, but many of those singers are not willing to put action to those words. Many will say “Treat and move your feet,” but remain adamantly opposed to any form of Spiritual Activism.
Spiritual bypass and spiritual malpractice are running rampant in many centers and churches simply because people do not want to engage in the challenging and courageous conversations. Why?
It appears that the shadow side of New Thought, which includes unresolved people pleasing, codependency, and a strong need to avoid conflict, keep the New Thought movement from moving and evolving.
New Thought remains a powerful, attractive teaching because it does not force a dogma to belong. There are no set rules about what you have to believe. It is a great match for the rugged individualism of those escaping the confines of strict or structured theological systems. You could practice A Course in Miracles, Reiki, and Wicca while attending New Thought centers if those were the particular intersections of spiritual paths that resonated with you.
But does this freedom come at a cost? Has it given New Thought adherents a sense of community without the responsibilities and accountability to our sisters and brothers that come with truly being a community member and looking out for the entire community? Has the navel staring and the focus on self-development and personal evolution of consciousness made people less willing, less able, less accountable when it comes to such things as voting responsibly?
It has become easy and natural for people to “New Thought shame” others by saying, “If you want to be happy, think positively.” Is that really enough, though? There was a Unity church where congregants wanted to create a support group for people experiencing depression. The minister said the group had to be called the Sunshine Group because depression could not be mentioned.
If someone’s house just burned to the ground they are not given the space to feel what they feel. They are told, “You must be holding burning thoughts in your consciousness.” And their feelings — the true and authentic anger, confusion, resentment, and depression– are brushed to the side as they are blamed and shamed for what they feel and are experiencing. It is too easy to simply say, “This world is all an illusion,” which means there is nothing to really be upset about because it’s not real.
Does that mean the family grieving the eight-year-old killed in a drive-by shooting should not grieve since it’s all an illusion?
Should the people who have family affected by COVID-19 have nothing to be upset about since it’s all an illusion?
Should the person who is abused, raped, harassed, or bullied, simply shift their thinking and the rainbows and sunshine of a new day will magically appear?
This is the position taken by many in New Thought. One look at social media and you can see the vast amount of spiritual bypass and spiritual malpractice that occurs on any given day. Sermons, blog posts, and podcasts are shared where ministers and others in New Thought promote the simplistic ideas that dismiss people’s grief, pain, fears, and anger.
In this view, racism is not real. It is an illusion and the ones who experience it only experience it because they have it in their consciousness. Same thing for sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, transphobia, etc.
Why was presidential candidate Marianne Williamson so easily ridiculed as a kook, a faery, or a magical wishing pixie? Could it be because more people know about Scientology than the Science of Mind and Spirit, even though the latter was established decades earlier? Could it be because so few in the “mainstream” know what New Thought is? While Marianne is not specifically a New Thought representative, many of her ideas, concepts, principles, and teachings as an instructor of A Course in Miracles are in alignment with New Thought.
Is New Thought the best kept secret because so few outside of select circles of spirituality know what New Thought is or even means? Has it enabled people to hide safely behind the walls of the church/center and avoid the world? Where are the New Thought media spokespeople? Where is the Rev. Al Sharpton of New Thought who is out in the public praying with families and communities, speaking to the news outlets about what New Thought offers to heal the issues facing people in the world? Where is the Bishop Barber of New Thought speaking about how the Poor People’s Campaign can become the Campaign of the Healed People or the Abundant People?
Has New Thought become a safe haven for those too afraid or too unwilling to engage the world?
Certainly there are people who are afraid and unwilling. But there are also people interested in doing the gritty and awkward work required to truly heal our many societal problems. There is a certain level of responsibility required to walking the walk in a public manner in order to create a world that works for everyone. While there are those who choose inaction, there are many others who have taken up the mantle and understand that New Thought is inherently a Liberation Theology – offering spiritual teachings that can emancipate the marginalized. The clarion call has awakened a new level of emerging leaders ready and willing to assume the responsibility and acceptability required to shift the global consciousness and work towards a more just world.
They do not shy away from political commentaries. They understand that if God is all there is then God must be showing up in politics as well. ls it not more effective to have politics and justice be in the highest possible alignment with Spirit?
They do not shy away from saying Black Lives Matter. They understand why it exists and the importance of the work to ensure justice and equity of Black and Brown people.
They do not shy away from being a representative of New Thought not only in their centers/churches but in their wider communities that exist beyond the brick and mortar!
Do you hear the call?
How will you answer?
For more information about Science of Mind Black Pioneers see the four-part series presented by Center for Spiritual Living Dallas:
Note 1 – Part 2 https://youtu.be/r8x8WunOuZU
Note 2 – Part 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdybiH3bySA
Part 1 https://youtu.be/WD-Df58i5do
Part 3 https://youtu.be/Ke37UWaEdLk
Rev. Dr. Raymont Anderson is senior minister of the Center for Spiritual Living Greater Baltimore. In addition to being a minister he is a social justice advocate, lifelong leaner, teacher, visual artist, author, speaker, workshop/seminar facilitator, mentor, American Sign Language Performing Artist, father, grandfather, and more. You can find him online at www.raymontanderson.com
Thoughtful and exciting article, Rev. Anderson. Thanks for all of the resources, too. I am becoming more of who I am meant to be. You are right, we are the ones. Let’s do this.
Powerful Truth!
Yes, and yes again.
Like any developmental pathway, New Thought has layers of realization of Truth which determine where we are in our ability to understand and express. It is the difference between seeing oneself as a “child of God” vs as an “Adult of God.”
Some who become credentialed in New Thought and move into spiritual leadership have not themselves arrived at the level of spiritual maturity necessary to be an Adult of God fully. That’s just the way it is – and the organizations have shown little to no interest in more rigorous selection and evaluation systems for credentialing. A deep resistance to having anyone “fail” to gain credentials has developed over the past 2 to 3 decades and there are, in my opinion, far too many credentialed individuals who are not up to the role of spiritual coach or spiritual leader.
The issue then with calling these people to social engagement is that even if they are willing, they very likely lack the emotional and spiritual intelligence to be both effective and truly compassionate in their activism.
I have, as many know, blogged about this for some time, and written a book on the subject. As long as our organizations (meaning the people in them) are reluctant to have a truly rigorous process in place for credentialing, New Thought will continue, for the most part, to be an insular, fearful, and ineffectual movement.
Rev. Dr. Anderson is an example of what we might all aspire to – spiritual courage and conviction born out of walking his talk.
Amen!
When I encounter souls like Raymont Anderson in this movement, I know that everything is going to be OK. His example, heart and mission are the very stuff of restoration and help to provide the “map” for finding our way in a world that desperately needs these qualities embodied in our leaders.
And as I said on another platform,… The Bishop Barber of New Thought has likely penned this post 🙂
Blessings to Rev Dr Raymont Anderson and the Light that he shines
YEEESSSSS!!
This post resonates deeply with me! As a person who is on a path to becoming a minister, this in music to my ears. We in New Thought must be engage in order for the movement to be relevant Thank you, Rev. Dr. Raymont Anderson!
I like this post very much.
I recall a conversation held maybe ten years ago with a member of a more traditional, but liberal, Christian church, addressing why I had moved away from participation in a New Thought community. Echoing my perspective, he observed that in his few exposures to New Thought communities, he noted everyone commenting about “my good,” “my serenity,” or “my abundance,” but never heard the term “our”. While he saw benefit there, he also saw a deficiency of concern for the well-being of others.
There seems to be a small but growing awareness of this condition among New Thought writers, and I am very pleased to see it!