John William Doorly’s biography is largely determined by a
profound transformation that can be characterized as a paradigm shift from religion to the exploration of an emergent psychology of the mind.
He gave up a highly successful career in the context of one of the greatest religious movements of the 19th and 20th centuries in favor of free research and teaching, which led to his excommunication in 1945 (see “Statement”). Previously, he had been an extremely successful lecturer and practitioner of the First Church of Christian Scientist, Massachusetts, holding all of its most important offices up to its president.
In the following years, John Doorly continued his research and teaching activities with great energy, now as a freelance author and lecturer. In the four years of his life that remained, he gave approximately 100 lectures in London. The high point of his teaching career was his summer schools on the four Gospels and the Book of Revelation. His lectures were subsequently published as "Verbatim Reports" by the John Doorly Foundation, London.
The majority of his works are by Christa Ascher and translated into German for me and are awaiting publication.
Although (or perhaps because!) John W. Doorly's research led to groundbreaking, even sensational discoveries, his findings remained unnoticed by the academic mainstream. One obstacle to the appreciation of his groundbreaking contribution may have to do with his former affiliation with the aforementioned Free Church congregation.
