Who Was Neville Goddard?

Neville Lancelot Goddard (1905-1972) was a profoundly influential author and lecturer who became a leading figure in the New Thought movement. Born in Barbados to an English family, he moved to New York City in 1922 to study drama. However, his life took a pivotal turn when he met an Ethiopian rabbi named Abdullah, who introduced him to the esoteric teachings of the Kabbalah and the power of imagination.

For decades, Neville taught that the human imagination is the operative power of God. He demystified the Bible, interpreting it not as a historical record, but as a psychological drama taking place within the human mind. According to Neville, the characters and stories of the Bible represent different states of consciousness that we can all access.

The Core of His Philosophy

Neville’s philosophy can be distilled into a few core principles:

• The Law of Assumption: Neville’s central teaching is that what you assume to be true, if persisted in, will harden into fact. In other words, your beliefs and expectations create your reality.
• Imagination Creates Reality: He taught that the human imagination is God in action. Through disciplined and feeling-toned imagination, you can create any reality you desire.
• Living in the End: This technique involves feeling yourself into the state of your wish already fulfilled. By living from the end result in your imagination, you impress your subconscious mind and bring your desire into being.
• The Bible as a Psychological Drama: Neville interpreted the Bible as a guide to the laws of consciousness. He saw its stories as parables about the power of the human mind.

Neville’s teachings empower the individual, placing the power to create one’s life squarely in the hands of each person. His message is one of liberation and self-responsibility, and it continues to resonate with seekers of truth around the world.