Neville's key insight: our nature and identity

The purpose of true metaphysics is to bring about a rebirth, or radical psychological change, in the individual.

~Neville, from the article Fundamentals, 1953

 

Neville Goddard is probably most popularly associated with the Law of Attraction. His readers are concerned with manifesting their desires. The more I look into it, the more I see that this ability is connected with psychological change.

He is, to say the least, unorthodox in identifying the “central figure of the Gospels” with the human imagination itself. His reports of visions and mystical experiences are centred, most devoutly, on Biblical imagery. For all that, the whole teaching does not lead to what we usually think to be Christianity.

Ironically, two diametrically opposed groups — those whom we might call “conventional” Christians, and broad masses for whom the very mention of Christian terminology is a complete turn-off — find themselves in complete agreement. That is, both groups will find Neville distasteful and ignore him. Christians likely find him outrageously blasphemous, while the non-religious reject him reflexively, merely because he uses Biblical language.

This leaves a third group: those who are open to a novel approach to Christianity, perceiving in Neville’s message something entirely fresh, far removed from the usual institutional view. These people (I’m one) can get past their own hackneyed associations, thanks to Neville’s brilliantly insightful interpretations.

Can we equate the human imagination with the divine power itself? For those who have long been seeking, there is something intuitively right about this. It really is good news; it gives freedom — while exacting devotion and a commitment to self change.