This timeline is intended as a resource for writers, seekers, and students of Joseph Murphy and of the American metaphysical tradition in general. It is also intended as a corrective to some of the misinformation that has circulated about Murphy, such as his studying with Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902), English judge and mystic Thomas Troward (1847–1916)—both of whom lived and worked at disparate times and distances from Murphy—or dubious details about his childhood home and educational background. This timeline represents the most complete information that I could locate through immigration records, Murphy’s few interviews, and cross-referenced sources.
—MH
1898
Joseph Denis Murphy is born on May 20, the fourth of five children (three girls and two boys) to a devout Catholic family on the Southern Coast of Ireland in Ballydehob, County Cork. Murphy’s father was headmaster of a local boys high school.
After being educated locally, Murphy studies chemistry in Dublin. Bowing to his parents’ wishes he enrolls briefly in a Jesuit seminary. Dissatisfied with his studies, and unbelieving of the doctrine of no salvation outside the church, Murphy leaves seminary.
Circa 1916–1918
Murphy works as a pharmacist for England’s Royal Army Medical Corps during World War I.
1918–1921
Murphy works as a in pharmacist in Dublin. He earns a monthly salary of about $10.
1922
Dissatisfied with traditional religion and finding limited opportunities to practice as a chemist, Murphy just shy of age 24 arrives in New York City on April 17, 1922. He is accompanied by his wife, Madolyn, who is eight years his senior (wedding date unknown). He arrives with $23. Applies for citizenship in August.
1923–1938
Murphy works as a pharmacist in New York City including at a pharmacy counter at the Algonquin Hotel. He deepens his study into metaphysics and years later recounts having studied with the figure of Abdullah, a black man of Jewish descent whom Murphy’s contemporary and fellow New Yorker, Neville Goddard (1905-1972), wrote that he studied with. Murphy reports that Abdullah tells Murphy that he actually had three brothers, not two. Upon checking with his mother, Murphy discovers that he had a third brother who died at birth and was never spoken of.
Circa 1931
Murphy begins attending the Church of the Healing Christ in New York City, presided over by Emmet Fox.
Circa 1938
Murphy is ordained as a Divine Science minster. He continues to work as a druggist and chemist.
1941
Murphy begins broadcasting metaphysical sermons over the radio.
1942
Murphy enlists as a pharmacist in the New York State National Guard, a post he holds until 1948.
1943
Murphy studies Tarot in New York City and comes to believe in symbolic correspondences between the Tarot cards and Scripture.
1945
Murphy writes his first book, This Is It: The Art Of Metaphysical Demonstration.
1946
Murphy is ordained as a Religious Science Minister in Los Angeles. He soon takes over the pulpit of the Institute for Religious Science in Rochester, New York. He publishes the short works Wheels of Truth, The Perfect Answer, and Fear Not.
1948
Murphy publishes St. John Speaks, Love is Freedom, and The Twelve Powers Mystically Explained.
1949
Murphy is re-ordained into Divine Science and becomes minister of the Los Angeles Divine Science Church, a post he will hold for the next 28 years. Services become so popular that they are held at the Wilshire Ebell Theater.
1952
Publishes Riches Are Your Right.
1953
Publishes The Miracles of Your Mind, The Fragrance of God, and How to Use the Power of Prayer.
1954
Publishes The Magic of Faith and The Meaning of Reincarnation, one of his most controversial books.
1955
Publishes Believe in Yourself and How to Attract Money, one of his most enduringly popular works.
1956
Murphy writes Traveling With God in which he recounts his international speaking tours, comparing New Thought with various global traditions. He also publishes Peace Within Yourself (St. John Speaks revised) and Prayer Is the Answer.
1957
Publishes How to Use Your Healing Power.
1958
Publishes the short works Quiet Moments with God, Pray Your Way Through It, The Healing Power of Love, Stay Young Forever, Mental Poisons and Their Antidotes, and How to Pray With a Deck of Cards.
1959
Publishes Living Without Strain.
1960
Publishes Techniques in Prayer Therapy.
1961
Publishes You Can Change Your Whole Life and Nuclear Religion.
1962
Publishes Why Did This Happen to Me?
1963
Publishes The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, which becomes a worldwide bestseller and a landmark of New Thought philosophy. The book’s publication makes Murphy into one of the most widely known metaphysical writers in the world.
1964
Publishes The Miracle of Mind Dynamics.
Publishes The Amazing Laws of Cosmic Mind Power.
1966
Publishes Your Infinite Power to Be Rich.
1968
Publishes The Cosmic Power Within You.
1969
Publishes Infinite Power for Richer Living.
1970
Publishes Secrets of the I Ching.
1971
Publishes Psychic Perception: The Magic of Extrasensory Perception.
1972
Publishes Miracle Power for Infinite Riches
1973
Publishes Telepsychics: The Magic Power of Perfect Living (1973)
1974
Publishes The Cosmic Energizer: Miracle Power of the Universe (1974)
1976
Murphy’s first wife Madolyn dies. He remarries his secretary, Jean L. Murphy (nee Wright), also a Divine Science minister. He writes Great Bible Truths for Human Problems.
1977
Publishes Within You Is the Power
1979
Publishes Songs of God
1980
Publishes How to Use the Laws of Mind
1981
Murphy dies on December 16 in Laguna Hills, CA, where he and his wife Jean are living at the Leisure World retirement community, now known as Laguna Woods Village.
1982
These Truths Can Change Your Life is published posthumously.
1987
Canadian writer Bernard Cantin publishes the French language work Joseph Murphy se raconte à Bernard Cantin [Joseph Murphy Speaks to Bernard Cantin] with Quebec’s Éditions Un Monde Différent. The book is based on an extended series of interviews Cantin conducted with Murphy before his death and provides a rare window into Murphy’s career. It does not appear in English. The Collected Essays of Joseph Murphy is published posthumously.