The term ‘applied faith’ does not have a clear origin, but it is often associated with the teachings of Napoleon Hill, an American author and motivational speaker who wrote about the principles of success and personal achievement¹. Hill used the term ‘applied faith’ to describe one of the 17 principles of success that he claimed to have learned from interviews with over 500 successful people, including Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and others². Hill defined ‘applied faith’ as “the mental attitude wherein you can clear your mind of all fears and doubts and direct it to the attainment of whatever you desire in life”³. He also said that ‘applied faith’ is “the adaptation of the power received from Infinite Intelligence to one’s definite major purpose”.
Hill’s concept of ‘applied faith’ was influenced by his own religious background as a Baptist, as well as by the ideas of New Thought, a movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that emphasized the power of positive thinking, affirmations, and visualization to achieve health, wealth, and happiness. Some of the New Thought authors that Hill cited as sources of inspiration were Ralph Waldo Emerson, Wallace D. Wattles, James Allen, and Christian D. Larson.
Hill’s writings on ‘applied faith’ and other principles of success have been widely read and popularized by many self-help authors and speakers, such as Earl Nightingale, W. Clement Stone, Zig Ziglar, Tony Robbins, and others. However, Hill’s claims have also been criticized for being unscientific, exaggerated, or fraudulent by some scholars and journalists. Some critics have also pointed out that Hill’s concept of ‘applied faith’ may be incompatible with some Christian doctrines, such as grace, sin, and salvation.
Therefore, the term ‘applied faith’ may not have a single originator, but rather a complex history of influences and interpretations. It is a term that reflects a certain worldview and philosophy of life that may appeal to some people but not to others.
Source: Conversation with Bing, 8/31/2023
(1) faith | Etymology, origin and meaning of faith by etymonline. https://www.etymonline.com/word/faith.
(2) Faith | Beliefs, Practices & History | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/faith.
(3) Christians – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christians.
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