Divine Science

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The Church of Divine Science is a religious group co-founded in the late 19th century by Nona L. Brooks (1861-1945) and her sister Fannie James in Denver, Colorado during the dramatic growth of the New Thought Movement in the United States. Emma Curtis Hopkins, noted New Thought leader of the day, was an indirect influence. Nona Brooks was introduced to Hopkins' teachings through a student of Hopkins in Pueblo, Colorado.

Divine Science originally began in San Francisco in the 1880's under Malinda Cramer. There is also a loose connection with Charles Fillmore, founder of Unity School of Christianity in Missouri. By 1918 there were churches in Denver, Seattle, Los Angeles, Oakland, Boston, Portland, Spokane and Saint Louis. By 1925 churches had opened in San Diego, Sacramento, Topeka, District of Columbia, Illinois, and Iowa. Today, the major churches are in Denver (the founding church), D.C., metro St. Louis (3), Roanoke (2), San Antonio, Pueblo, and San Jose.

Divine Science is part of the Christian New Thought Movement that believes in the omnipresence and benevolence of God. Divine Scientists see God as possessing love, wisdom, power, and substance, and do not believe that God has an opposite, such as Satan. Divine Science considers it a changeless truth that God constitutes the nature of all being and that God and only God fills all realms and dimensions of existence. Like other New Thought churches, Divine Science considers spiritual healing very important, and emulates the work of Jesus, who is portrayed in the New Testament curing many people. The Denver Church's founder, Nona Brooks, stated, "The whole of Divine Science is the practice of the Presence of God. Truth comes through the Bible, receptive prayer, contemplation and meditation and the practice of the presence of God here and now."

In recent years, Divine Science, with few site-based churches, has expanded its presence through cyber-ministries and e-mail ministries. Northwoods Resources in Wisconsin provides many materials online. In addition, "Symphony of Love" in Santa Fe issues a weekly e-mail lesson free of charge, and has an international outreach. Symphony of Love is a group member of the Divine Science Federation, the denominational headquarters, and the INTA: International New Thought Alliance. In addition, there is a Web-based ministry in New York State focusing on the teachings and legacy of the late Emmet Fox, a Divine Science Minister who led the world's largest New Thought group from the 1930's to the early 1950's.