Joel S. Goldsmith
Encyclopedia
Joel Solomon Goldsmith (March 10, 1892–June 17, 1964) was a author
, teacher
, spiritual healer, mystic, and founder of The Infinite Way
movement.
on March 10, 1892. Goldsmith's parents, non-practicing Jews, had been married in New York City in 1891 and Joel was their first child. They subsequently had another son two years later followed by a daughter two years after that.
Goldsmith's father became critically ill during a trip to England 1915 and word was sent to the Goldsmith family to come for the body. However, according to Goldsmith, his father was healed by the father of a female friend, a Christian Science
practitioner, after more conventional doctors failed.
, Goldsmith went to work in his father's business, developing tuberculosis soon thereafter. As his father before him, Goldsmith was healed by a Christian Science
practitioner and in 1928 Goldsmith became an active Christian Scientist, moving to Boston and living across the street from the "Mother Church".
The writings which followed were transcriptions of his lectures which had been recorded on the first wire recorders in the late 1940s. These were distributed from the Goldsmith Publishing. They were: The Master Speaks, The First, Second, Third San Francisco Lecture Series, Consciousness Unfolding, God the Substance of All Form, and Metaphysical Notes. These original books were later republished during Goldsmith's lifetime by publishers in various countries.
As Goldsmith was approached by large publishing houses around the world to produce books of his talks, he enlisted the help of Lorraine Sinkler and her sister Valbourg to edit his books which were generally compiled from various lecture transcripts. Today, there are those who prefer the original, unedited, works for they are more precise and accurate.
Goldsmith's insistence on "no organization" insured that his message remained a personal journey with leaders naturally evolving from new generations. There is no service, ritual, dogma, ceremony in the practice of the Infinite Way. Goldsmith students can be found in all walks of life, in all religions. Goldsmith's message is one that can be read and heard for a lifetime, always allowing new understandings to unfold in each individual.
Goldsmith stressed meditation practice in his teaching. The method he generally taught was short frequent meditation periods throughout the day. His teaching also stressed spiritual healing through conscious contact with God. There are a variety of opinions and views regarding the specifics of Goldsmith's teaching and how it manifests itself in a person's experience.
W1, England. His body was cremated at Golders Green in London on June 18, 1964, and his ashes and effects where released to his widow, Emma Goldsmith, to take them back to their home in Hawaii
. Both were interred in Arizona.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, spiritual healer, mystic, and founder of The Infinite Way
The Infinite Way
The Infinite Way is a New Thought spiritual movement created by 21st century spiritualist Joel S. Goldsmith. According to Goldsmith, "The Infinite Way is a spiritual teaching consisting of principles which anyone may follow and practice, irrespective of his religious affiliation...
movement.
Early years
Joel Goldsmith was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on March 10, 1892. Goldsmith's parents, non-practicing Jews, had been married in New York City in 1891 and Joel was their first child. They subsequently had another son two years later followed by a daughter two years after that.
Goldsmith's father became critically ill during a trip to England 1915 and word was sent to the Goldsmith family to come for the body. However, according to Goldsmith, his father was healed by the father of a female friend, a Christian Science
Christian Science
Christian Science is a system of thought and practice derived from the writings of Mary Baker Eddy and the Bible. It is practiced by members of The First Church of Christ, Scientist as well as some others who are nonmembers. Its central texts are the Bible and the Christian Science textbook,...
practitioner, after more conventional doctors failed.
Christian Science
After serving in the Marines during World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Goldsmith went to work in his father's business, developing tuberculosis soon thereafter. As his father before him, Goldsmith was healed by a Christian Science
Christian Science
Christian Science is a system of thought and practice derived from the writings of Mary Baker Eddy and the Bible. It is practiced by members of The First Church of Christ, Scientist as well as some others who are nonmembers. Its central texts are the Bible and the Christian Science textbook,...
practitioner and in 1928 Goldsmith became an active Christian Scientist, moving to Boston and living across the street from the "Mother Church".
The Infinite Way
Goldsmith self-published his most famous work, The Infinite Way, in 1947 based on letters to patients and students, as well as The Spiritual Interpretation of Scripture.The writings which followed were transcriptions of his lectures which had been recorded on the first wire recorders in the late 1940s. These were distributed from the Goldsmith Publishing. They were: The Master Speaks, The First, Second, Third San Francisco Lecture Series, Consciousness Unfolding, God the Substance of All Form, and Metaphysical Notes. These original books were later republished during Goldsmith's lifetime by publishers in various countries.
As Goldsmith was approached by large publishing houses around the world to produce books of his talks, he enlisted the help of Lorraine Sinkler and her sister Valbourg to edit his books which were generally compiled from various lecture transcripts. Today, there are those who prefer the original, unedited, works for they are more precise and accurate.
Goldsmith's insistence on "no organization" insured that his message remained a personal journey with leaders naturally evolving from new generations. There is no service, ritual, dogma, ceremony in the practice of the Infinite Way. Goldsmith students can be found in all walks of life, in all religions. Goldsmith's message is one that can be read and heard for a lifetime, always allowing new understandings to unfold in each individual.
Goldsmith stressed meditation practice in his teaching. The method he generally taught was short frequent meditation periods throughout the day. His teaching also stressed spiritual healing through conscious contact with God. There are a variety of opinions and views regarding the specifics of Goldsmith's teaching and how it manifests itself in a person's experience.
Death
Joel Solomon Goldsmith died on Jun 17, 1964, at the Piccadilly Hotel, Westminster, LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
W1, England. His body was cremated at Golders Green in London on June 18, 1964, and his ashes and effects where released to his widow, Emma Goldsmith, to take them back to their home in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. Both were interred in Arizona.