A friend was disapproving and said to me that New Thought and Christianity are at odds and that I mustn’t believe in the principles of New Thought because Jesus said, “He is the only way to God.” This was my reply.
Understanding Jesus’ Teachings and New Thought:
I deeply respect the view and understand where they’re coming from. Jesus’ statement, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’ (John 14:6), is a central tenet of Christianity, and I fully honour that. However, I believe there’s a way to view this teaching that harmonises with the principles of New Thought, rather than being in conflict with it.
When Jesus speaks of ‘the way,’ many interpret this not just as a literal reference to the person of Jesus, but to the Christ consciousness or divine presence within each of us. This idea aligns with the core teachings of New Thought, which emphasise that God is within all of us, and that by aligning our thoughts and actions with this divine presence, we can live a life of greater spiritual awareness and fulfilment.
Jesus as an Example of Divine Potential:
New Thought doesn’t dismiss Jesus or his teachings—in fact, many New Thought thinkers, like Emmet Fox and Charles Fillmore, saw Jesus as a great spiritual teacher who demonstrated the power of the mind and spirit. He taught principles like love, faith, forgiveness and healing—many of which are echoed in New Thought. Jesus himself said, ‘The kingdom of God is within you’ (Luke 17:21), and this idea resonates strongly with New Thought’s belief in the divinity and potential within every person.
When Jesus healed people, he often emphasised faith: ‘Your faith has made you well’ (Matthew 9:22). New Thought teaches something similar—that our beliefs, thoughts and faith can shape our reality, including our health and circumstances. So, instead of seeing New Thought as separate from Christianity, I see it as a way to apply Jesus’ teachings about faith, love and inner transformation in a practical way.
A Broader Interpretation of ‘The Way’:
Some Christians interpret Jesus’ words ‘I am the way’ as an invitation to follow his example and teachings, rather than as an exclusion of all other spiritual practices. Jesus taught about love, forgiveness, service and faith in God. New Thought encourages people to live according to these same values, but also emphasizes that our thoughts and beliefs have creative power—something that many Christian teachings agree with. Proverbs 23:7 says, ‘As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.’ This shows the importance of thoughts and mindset in shaping our lives, a core belief in both Christianity and New Thought.
Unity in Belief in God:
At its heart, New Thought doesn’t deny the existence of God or Jesus. It focuses on how we can tap into divine principles to better our lives and the world around us. I personally don’t see it as rejecting Jesus, but rather as a way of understanding how the divine works in our lives. For me, believing in New Thought helps deepen my faith by applying the spiritual principles that Jesus taught in practical ways—through love, forgiveness and understanding the power of the mind and heart.
In the end, I don’t believe that Jesus’ message excludes the possibility of learning from other spiritual practices, especially when those practices encourage us to live lives of love, faith and divine alignment. I believe that God works through many avenues and for me, New Thought has helped me grow spiritually while staying rooted in the teachings of Christ.
New Thought doesn’t negate a belief in Jesus or Christianity. Instead, it offers a practical framework for living out many of Jesus’ teachings, particularly around faith, love and personal transformation. It’s not about choosing one path over another, but seeing how these ideas can work together to foster deeper spiritual growth.
