Warren Felt Evans was a prominent figure in American spirituality during the 19th century, yet his contributions have largely been forgotten over time. Born in 1817 in Rockingham, Vermont, Evans was a minister and spiritual writer who played a significant role in the development of the New Thought movement and the spiritualist movement in the United States.
Evans began his career as a Methodist minister, but he soon became disenchanted with the traditional teachings of the church. He was particularly drawn to the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, a Swedish philosopher and theologian whose ideas influenced many 19th-century thinkers. Evans was captivated by Swedenborg’s idea of spiritual interconnectedness and his belief in the power of the mind to shape reality.
In the 1850s, Evans began to delve deeper into the study of spiritualism, which was gaining popularity at the time. He became an advocate for spiritualism and began to incorporate its teachings into his own writings and lectures. He also became involved in the emerging New Thought movement, which emphasized the power of positive thinking and the law of attraction.
One of Evans’ most well-known works is “The Mental Cure,” which was published in 1869. In this book, Evans explored the idea of mind over matter and the potential of the human mind to heal physical and mental ailments. He argued that the power of the mind could be harnessed to overcome illness and adversity, a notion that would later become central to the New Thought movement.
Evans’ teachings and writings were influential during his lifetime, and he gained a following of individuals who were drawn to his radical ideas about spirituality and the power of the mind. However, as the 20th century progressed, Evans’ contributions to American spirituality began to fade into obscurity.
Today, Warren Felt Evans is largely forgotten in the annals of American spirituality, overshadowed by more well-known figures such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and William James. However, his ideas and writings continue to have relevance in contemporary spiritual and self-help movements.
Evans’ early explorations into the power of positive thinking and the mind’s ability to shape reality laid the groundwork for the development of the New Thought movement, which would go on to influence the works of authors such as Napoleon Hill and Rhonda Byrne. Additionally, his embrace of spiritualism helped to pave the way for the acceptance of alternative spiritual beliefs in American culture.
Despite his relative obscurity today, Warren Felt Evans should be remembered as a pioneering figure in American spirituality. His radical ideas about the power of the mind and the interconnectedness of the spiritual world continue to have resonance in the 21st century, and his work deserves to be appreciated and acknowledged as a significant contribution to the history of American spirituality.