POSITIVE THINKING & POSITIVE CONFESSION (PART II)

“Godless Mind Games”

By Akin Ojumu

When you trace its historical origin, you’d find that the positive thinking and positive confession concept leads back to a metaphysical healing cult known as the New Thought Movement. The essential elements of the New Thought Movement are based on mesmerism. 

Named after its originator, Franz Anton Mesmer, a 16th century German physician, mesmerism, which is the precursor of hypnotism, is the process of natural energy transference occurring between all animate and inanimate objects. Franz Mesmer termed this energy transference, “animal magnetism.” He incorporated the principles of mesmerism to his medical practice.

Mesmerism finds its way into Christianity through the work of Phineas Parkhurst Quimby, a clockmaker from Portland, Maine. Quimby’s foray into the mind-body metaphysical arena followed his bout with tuberculosis. Frustrated with the inadequacy of medical remedy to cure his illness, Quimby started ruminating about the nature of illness and cure. Through his observation of people, he came to the conclusion that a link exists between the mind and the body, and this link, he believed, could be central to the question of health and well-being.

Quimby’s observations and conclusions led him to the teachings of some of the disciples of Fran Anton Mesmer and mesmerism. Subsequently, he co-opted the techniques of mesmerism (aka hypnotism) into a metaphysical healing cult which became the New Thought Movement.

According to Encyclopedia Britannica:

“Quimby employed hypnosis as a means of healing but discovered that he could also heal by suggestion. He held that all illness is basically a matter of the mind and that it results from the patient’s mistaken beliefs. Hence, cure lies in discovering the truth. Although not religious in the orthodox sense, he believed he had rediscovered the healing methods of Jesus.”

Writing about the central purpose of the New Thought Movement, the International New Thought Alliance states that their objective is: 

“To teach the Infinitude of the Supreme One; the Divinity of Man and his Infinite Possibilities through the creative power of constructive thinking and obedience to the voice of the indwelling Presence which is our source of Inspiration, Power, Health and Prosperity.”

Some of the tenets of the New Thought Movement include, but not limited, the following:

Divinity of Humanity

Humans are divine. Because they are divine, the power of God is available and accessible to humans.

Oneness with God

Humans can live in oneness with God in love, truth, peace, health, and plenty.

Incorrect Thinking Brings Calamity

Sicknesses, diseases, misfortune, etc., are all a direct result of incorrect thinking i.e., negative thinking. As disease is due to false reasoning, so health is due to positive reasoning. Healing and divine health can be achieved by thinking and confessing positively.

Positive Thinking Brings Prosperity

Thinking positively can bring material prosperity. When you think right, you attract wealth and prosperity to yourself.

Quimby’s teachings influenced Mary Baker Eddy, founder of the Church of Christ, Scientist, the Mother Church of the Christian Science movement. Disillusioned with modern medicine, Mary Baker Eddy, like Phineas Quimby before her, became convinced that the root cause of diseases is in the human mind. She arrived at this conviction in 1862, just about the time she met Phineas Quimby.

Eventually, though, Mary Baker Eddy would deny the influence of Quimby’s teachings on her Christian Science belief system. This was because she came to the realization that Quimby’s healing method was based in mesmerism, or mental suggestion, rather than in biblical Christianity.

Another person whose teachings were greatly influenced by Phineas Parkhurst Quimby’s mesmerism was Essek William Kenyon, who is considered the originator of the modern “positive confession” theology of the Word of Faith Pentecostalism. 

Kenyon attended college at the Emerson School of Oratory in Boston where Metaphysical cults flourished. It was during his time at the Emerson School that EW Kenyon’s religious views became shaped by the New Thought Movement of Phineas Parkhurst Quimby. 

Later on, E.W. Kenyon developed his positive thinking and positive confession belief system from what he learned from Quimby’s metaphysical cult of mesmerism, and he promoted these beliefs in his books and sermons.

Here are a few excerpts from E. W. Kenyon’s books (courtesy of Got Questions):

“With that Word, we conquer disease. We say, ‘Disease, in the Name of Jesus Christ, stop being. Cancer, in the Name of Jesus, shrivel up and stop being. TB., in the Name of Jesus, leave that body.’” (A New Type of Christianity)

“Faith talks in the language of God. Doubt talks in the language of man.” (What We Are in Christ)

“We confess disease and sickness cannot keep us in bondage because we understand the power of Jesus’ words on our lips…The Word on our lips not only makes us free but sets others free. The Word on our lips heals the sick. The Word on our lips creates faith in the hearts of those who hear us. The Word on our lips will change the lives of others as they listen. It is the very life of God in those words – the life Jesus purchased for our sake by His death and resurrection.” (Power of Your Words Devotional).

Some of the heavyweights of the Pentecostal/Charismatic/Word of Faith Movement such as Jimmy Swaggart, Kenneth Hagin, Oral Roberts, and Kenneth Copeland, were greatly influenced by E.W. Kenyon. In fact, it has been alleged that in many of his books, Kenneth Hagin plagiarized entire passages, word for word, from several of E.W Kenyon books.

Stay tuned till next time.