The word holistic is defined in general terms
in the dictionary as the theory that a whole is greater than its parts.
In recent decades the word has come to be used
in much more expanded ways as follows:
-
IN GENERAL - Referring to the concept of
a whole person or a person who has synthesized the three major parts
of their being, body, mind and soul or spirit.
-
SPIRITUALLY - Referring to attempting to
become a whole person by synthesizing body, mind, and soul or spirit.
-
MEDICALLY OR IN THE GENERAL HEALING ARTS
- General reference to natural, alternative, complimentary, and
preventative healing modalities.
-
IN MINISTRY - Used by metaphysical or
non-denominational ministers who specialize in pastoral counseling and/or
spiritual healing.
DEFINING "NEW
THOUGHT?"
"New Thought" can be found in larger
unabridged dictionaries and is described as a religious movement. The so-called
father of New Thought was a man by the name of Phineas Parkhurst Quimby who
taught and practiced various forms of spiritual mind healing. The basic premise
was that everything is one vast universal mind, the human mind and body
included. The One Mind is God, one with the human mind. By thinking healing in
the human mind/body, the God part of the mind could effect a healing.
Phineas Parkhurst Quimby supposedly taught
this to Mary Baker Eddy. Eddy began Christian Science, the first large
metaphysical church in modern history. The success of Christian Science
stimulated the growth of other metaphysically oriented groups, later to become
church organizations. Most notable and successful of these was Unity or the
Unity School of Christianity, started by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore. Religious
Science or The Church of Religious Science founded by Ernest Holmes later
followed this. The success of Unity and Religious Science stimulated the birth
of many independent churches and teaching centers along metaphysical lines.
Because of a common shared spiritual philosophy held by Unity, Religious Science
and many independents, the term New Thought was adopted to denote a religious
movement. From this was born the International New Thought Alliance, that
brought together various metaphysical groups. In more recent years a new
organization bringing together New Thought oriented organizations was formed
called Global New Thought.
In 1959, Dr. Paul Leon Masters began what has
later on evolved to become the International Metaphysical Ministry. I.M.M. has
joined Unity and Religious Science as one of the major metaphysically oriented
movements that comes under the description of New Thought. The major difference
between I.M.M. and the other majors is that I.M.M. ordained ministers are free
to choose operating names of their choice, as well as what they teach and how
they operate providing only that the basic metaphysical teachings of the
organization and its founder are still an integral part of what is shared with
the public.
I.M.M. was born of an independent, Dr.
Masters, for those who also wished to be independents though ordained by I.M.M.
I.M.M. and its University System of the University of Metaphysics and the new
University of Sedona are therefore very unique indeed in the field of religion
in general and in New Thought.
