Yes and No. It’s dated, and that’s what made it so interesting. This text obviously informed AA texts and tenets, but AA took off in a different direction, danced with Ignatian thinking and produced the 12 steps. There’s nothing of step work here, but it’s implied. (see p.21 for what sounds like the first three steps. But these are universal spiritual principles. Here’s a sentence (p.135)
“Mankind is slow to realize that there is simply no way of salvation except by changing one’s consciousness, which means trying to do the Will of God consistently in every department of life.”
There’s not a religion or spiritual practice that wouldn’t resonate with that, given a particular translation of the vocabulary.
I disagree with the absolute power of positive thinking; I find it another form of blame-the-victim. It has limited uses, but Emmet's "Scientific Thought" sounds rigid. Dale Carnegie for the spiritual life.
( )

The real meat and bones of Christianity. Very little dogma and a lot of how to adjust one's thinking. ( )

I used to blame Christianity for many of the problems that I saw in the world. But after reading this book, (after hearing about Emmet Fox from Louise Hay), I completely revolutionized my view. Fox talks about how Jesus wanted people to elevate their consciousness rather than considering circumstances and to focus on internal factors rather than external ones. In so doing he elevated my consciousness considerably and allowed me to live my life in greater harmony with God's laws; I am really indebted to Emmet Fox for giving me this key of understanding.

Today I still think that there are some bad ideas which are called Christianity, but that true Christianity is only a positive influence, and that Christ's love is always available to aid and transform you. Fox reveals the truth in many passages which you will surely have thought that you understood, but whose spiritual meaning has been quietly ignored by most of the Christian world. Principles like how to love your enemies and thereby gain inner peace, and how to realize that it is not your circumstances but your consciousness, your consciousness that is your own choice and not the result of your circumstances, which forms your life-- all this and more is found within this not only concise, but deathless, timeless book, which ideally should be read not just once but many times.

Emmet Fox shows you Christ's truth, so that you might realize that no matter how many choose to reject or quietly ignore these ultimately very simple teachings, they are available for you to claim as your ideals the moment that you choose to do so. I know that recently my increased inner peace has been entirely the result of the Christ-Truth being unveiled before my eyes.

(10/10) ( )

This book is written purely from a metaphysic, philosophical, pseudo-scientific viewpoint. It is the pinnacle of bad teaching about the "Sermon on the Mount" or anything else biblical. I read (past tense) it only to get a grasp of some of the errors in theology and doctrine which I may encounter from time to time in evangelizing. Emmet Fox hints strongly at Scientology. I do not recommend this book. It is heresy, pure and simple. ( )

I guess I blew it with the timing of this review. This is a beautiful hardbound reprint of a 1934 classic, clearly meant as a gift option. The publication timing of November 2012 hints of a Christmas gift. Did any of you get Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift certificates for Christmas? My apologies, HarperOne, for not jumping on this sooner, to get the word out.

Let’s start with the dirt on Emmet Fox (1886-1951). He was a spiritual teacher, and served as minister of the Divine Science church in New York during the depression years. “Divine Science” is a New Thought branch, which appears to me to be a watered down version of Christian Science. An emphasis on healing remains, focusing on prayer and positive thinking, but with a little more room for the medical profession to step in where needed. At least, that’s my take.

Fox’s work here on “The Sermon on the Mount” became popular with Alcoholics Anonymous, though it seems to me a bit more ethereal than many current-day A.A. attendees would appreciate. Subtitles abound for this work: not only is this book (and Jesus’ sermon) the “key to success in life,” it is “the timeless manual on the power of positive thinking” and “the classic manual for harmonious living.” You aren’t going to get converted to orthodox Christianity by Fox–”all the doctrines and theologies of the churches are human inventions built up by their authors out of their own mentalities, and foisted upon the Bible from the outside”–but Fox’s appreciation for Jesus still shines. “Higher Critics” are missing the point of the Bible, for it is but a spiritual treatise. As such, you must learn new meanings for many of the words in the Bible: “prosperity,” “earth,” “heaven,” “heart,” these don’t mean what you think they mean.

The great Law of the Universe is this: what you think in your mind you will produce in your experience. Lovers of The Secret will also love Emmet Fox, especially if you have a love also for Jesus, the Master Metaphysician. ( )