New Thought is a spiritual movement descended from the work of Phineas Parkhurst Quimby and others who, in the mid-19th century, sought to find the universal truths behind all religions. Most often confused with what is called "New Age" in the media, New Thought is actually an attempt to gather the common thread of truth that is woven through all the world's great spiritual traditions. The principles of New Thought are to be found in Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Zen, Hinduism, and many philosophical and theological works. It is mostly Christian in background, but has become allied to various religions.