Neville Lancelot Goddard

Neville Lancelot Goddard (February 19, 1905 – October 1, 1972), generally known as Neville,[1] was an American author who wrote on the Bible, mysticism, and self-help.

Neville Lancelot Goddard
Goddard c. 1939
Born(1905-02-19)February 19, 1905
Barbados
DiedOctober 1, 1972(1972-10-01) (aged 67)
West Hollywood, California, US
Resting placeSaint Michael, Barbados
SubjectSelf-help, Bible exegesis

Life

Goddard was born in Barbados in 1905 and immigrated to New York City c. 1922, where he initially worked as a ballet and ballroom dancer.[2][3]

In 1931, he began to study under an Ethiopian rabbi who introduced him to Kabbalah.[2] He was not naturalized until around the time of World War II, when he served in the United States Army.[3]

In early 1950s, Goddard lectured at The Town Hall on religious topics.[3] In 1954, he was reportedly planning a "metaphysical telefilm show", though it is unclear if the project came to fruition.[4]

As of his death in 1972 in West Hollywood, Goddard had been resident in Los Angeles for roughly 20 years.[5]

He is buried in Westbury Cemetery, Saint Michael, Barbados.[6]

Views

Goddard viewed the Bible as a parable of the human psyche as opposed to a record of historical events. Therefore, Goddard did not believe in an external God who answers prayers, but rather that "[y]ou are the creator".[7]

Jonathan L. Walton argues that Frederick Eikerenkoetter, in particular, adopted theories on people's ability to change their situation through "feeling" that are rooted in Goddard's ideas.[8] Rhonda Byrne and Wayne Dyer have noted that Goddard shaped their views.[1] Margaret Runyan Castaneda, ex-wife and later biographer of Carlos Castaneda, was interested in Goddard's work and introduced Carlos to Goddard's ideas.[9][10]

Mitch Horowitz contended that Goddard was influenced by writer and mystic William Blake and early self-help theorists Émile Coué and Thomson Jay Hudson.[11]

Schulson argues that At Your Command (1939) "reads like a pocket guide for fascists".[12] He continues by noting that "the basic idea" of the work is that "positive thinking can shape reality".[12]

Works
  • At Your Command (1939)[13]
  • Your Faith Is Your Fortune (1941)[14]
  • Freedom for All—A Practical Application of the Bible (1942)[15]
  • Feeling Is the Secret (1944)[16]
  • Prayer—The Art of Believing (1946)[17]
  • Out of This World (1949)[18]
  • The Creative Use of Imagination (1952)[19]
  • The Power of Awareness (1952)[7]
  • Awakened Imagination (1954)[20]
  • Seedtime and Harvest (1956)[21]
  • The Law and the Promise (1961)[22]

References
  1. Horowitz 2019, p. 198.
  2. Walton 2011, p. 186.
  3. Beronius, George L. (July 7, 1951). "Neville Goddard; Religious Topics Author-Speaker". Los Angeles Times. p. A2. ProQuest 166277786.
  4. "Neville Plans Series". The Hollywood Reporter. 130 (30): 4. July 30, 1954. ProQuest 2338193103.
  5. "Neville Goddard; Religious Topics Author-Speaker". Los Angeles Times. November 4, 1972. p. C3. ProQuest 157086265.
  6. "Neville Lancelot Goddard (1905–1972)". Find a Grave. Archived from the original on December 28, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  7. Goddard, Neville Lancelot (1952). The Power of Awareness. New York City: G. & J. Publishing Co.
  8. Walton 2011, p. 188.
  9. Woo, Elaine (January 30, 2012). "Margaret Runyan Castaneda dies at 90; ex-wife of mystic author". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  10. Ewen, Alexander; Wollock, Jeffrey, eds. (2015). "Castañeda, Carlos". Encyclopedia of the American Indian in the Twentieth Century. New York: Infobase Publishing. p. 85. ISBN 978-1-78785-270-9. OCLC 1108099625.
  11. Horowitz 2019, pp. 200–201.
  12. Schulson, Michael (January 9, 2017). "Trickle-Down Metaphysics and the Dawn of a Trumpian New Age". Religion Dispatches. Archived from the original on June 20, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  13. Goddard, Neville Lancelot (1939). At Your Command. New York City: Goddard Publications.
  14. Goddard, Neville Lancelot (1941). Your Faith Is Your Fortune. New York City: Goddard Publications.
  15. Goddard, Neville Lancelot (1942). Freedom for All—A Practical Application of the Bible. New York City: Goddard Publications.
  16. Goddard, Neville Lancelot (1944). Feeling Is the Secret. New York City: Goddard Publications.
  17. Goddard, Neville Lancelot (1945). Prayer—The Art of Believing. New York City: Goddard Publications.
  18. Goddard, Neville Lancelot (1949). Out of This World. New York City: Goddard Publications.
  19. Goddard, Neville Lancelot (1952). The Creative Use of Imagination. New York City: Goddard Publications.
  20. Goddard, Neville Lancelot (1954). Awakened Imagination. New York City: G. & J. Publishing Co.
  21. Goddard, Neville Lancelot (1952). Seedtime and Harvest. New York City: G. & J. Publishing Co.
  22. Goddard, Neville Lancelot (1952). The Law and the Promise. New York City: G. & J. Publishing Co.

Sources

Further reading
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