E. W. Kenyon

=="Positive confession" and New Thought Controversy==
It has been suggested by some that Kenyon was the originator of the modern "positive confession" theology which is prevalent in [[Word of Faith]] [[Pentecostalism]]. Proponents of this view suggest that Kenyon's religious views were heavily influenced by the [[New Thought Movement]] during his time at the Emerson School, and that he developed the teaching of positive confession from that influence.<ref name=NDPCM>Stanley M. Burgess and Eduard M. van der Mass, eds., ''The New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements'', Rev. ed. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2003), Kindle edition, "Positive Confession Theology".</ref>

According to Kenyon biographer Joe McIntyre, the actual influence Kenyon's time at Emerson had on his religious views is debatable.<ref>McIntyre, Joe, ''E. W. Kenyon and His Message of Faith: The True Story''. Creation House, 1997, pp. 15-22.</ref> Instead, McIntyre suggests that Kenyon developed his positive confession teaching primarily from the teachings of [[Holiness Movement]], Faith Cure and [[Higher Life movement]] ministers of the late 19th Century. 

Evidence that the teaching of positive confession was already developing in Christianity before Kenyon is present in time period literature. In the 1884 book ''The Atonement for Sin and Sickness'', [[Russell Kelso Carter]] demonstrates an early version of what Kenyon later taught: "I only prayed, O, Lord, make me sure of the truth, and I will confess it; I have nothing to do with consequences; that is Thy part," and again, "Jesus has the keeping part, I have the believing and confessing."<ref>Carter, Russell Kelso. ''The Atonement for Sin and Sickness''. Willard Tract Repository, 1884, pp. 3-4.</ref>

According to Milmon F. Harrison [[Kenneth E. Hagin]] who was once thought to be the founder of Word of Faith Movement, is no longer considered  to be the founder or main source of its ideas. Harrison discusses the similarities between the writings of the two which included entire passages and resulted in critics arguing that Hagin plagiarised Kenyon.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sanders|first=C. J.|date=2008-03-01|title=Righteous Riches: The Word of Faith Movement in Contemporary African American Religion, by Milmon F. Harrison. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005, 192 pp.; $16.95 USD (paper), $74.00 USD (cloth)|journal=Sociology of Religion|volume=69|issue=1|pages=118–119|doi=10.1093/socrel/69.1.118|issn=1069-4404}}</ref>