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Religious Science

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Religious Science emblem[1]

Religious Science, also known as Science of Mind, was founded in 1927 by Ernest Holmes (1887-1960) and is a spiritual/philosophical/metaphysical religious movement within the New Thought movement. In general, the term "Science of Mind" applies to the teachings, while the term "Religious Science" applies to the organizations. However, adherents often tend to use the terms interchangeably. Ernest Holmes stated "Religious Science is a correlation of laws of science, opinions of philosophy, and revelations of religion applied to human needs and the aspirations of man." He also stated that Religious Science/Science of Mind (RS/SOM) is not based on any "authority" of established beliefs, but rather on "what it can accomplish" for the people who practice it. [2]

Religious Science should not be confused (due to a similarity in names) with Christian Science or Scientology. While Christian Science and Religious Science share a common root in history they are not the same teaching, and neither of these organizations have any connections with Scientology. One major difference between Christian Science and Religious Science is that Christian Scientists do not believe that traditional medical practices are compatible with their philosophy, whereas Religious Science believes that all proven healing practices are part of the "Whole" (i.e. God), so that the practice of "Spiritual Mind Treatment" (see below) can be performed supplementally with medical practices. [3]

History

Ernest Holmes did not originally intend for RS/SOM to be a "church," but rather a teaching institution. In that spirit, many member "churches" have traditionally referred to themselves as "centers." The mental healing work of Dr. Phineas P. Quimby was a source of inspiration to much of the New Thought movement, including RS/SOM. Ernest Holmes was especially strongly influenced by Emma Curtis Hopkins, and by the writings of Judge Thomas Troward and Ralph Waldo Emerson, as he developed his synthesis which became known as Religious Science.[4] [5]

Upon publication of his seminal book in 1926, The Science of Mind [6], Holmes established the Institute for Religious Science and School of Philosophy in Los Angeles. This organization would later become the Church of Religious Science. (See "Organizations" below for the names and links to the largest of the Religious Science organizations existing today). Holmes had previously studied another New Thought teaching, Divine Science (Holmes was an ordained Divine Science Minister). He saw humans as being "open at the top" - that is, open to evolutionary improvement of consciousness in all areas of life. [7] The concepts of "Open at the Top" and "New Thought" have inspired RS/SOM organizations and their teachings to evolve over the years. As stated in the book "New Thought: A Practical American Spirituality," "New Thought still is evolving; it may yet be the point at which religion, philosophy, and science come together as the most effective combination to move the world to greater peace, plenty, health, and harmony. Many believe it might be the quintessential spirituality for the next millennium." [8] His teachings attracted famous celebrities of his time, including Cecil B. De Mille, Peggy Lee, and Cary Grant. [9]

Teachings and practices

The RS/SOM teaching generally incorporates idealistic and panentheistic philosophies. RS/SOM teaches that all beings are expressions of and part of Infinite Intelligence, also known as Spirit, Higher Consciousness, or God. It believes that, because God is all there is in the universe (not just present in Heaven, or in assigned deities, as believed by traditional teachings), Its powers can be used by all humans to the extent that they realize Its presence.[10] Ernest Holmes said "God is not ... a person, but a Universal Presence ... already in our own soul, already operating through our own consciousness."[11] See New Thought for a comparison of the philosophy with the New Thought teaching - Unity School of Christianity.

The Introduction to "The Science of Mind" text describes "The Thing Itself" (God or Infinite Intelligence), "The Way It Works," "What It Does," and "How to Use It."[12] Although Holmes was criticized for not focusing much on love, he did say that "Love rules through Law." (i.e. the Law of Mind or Cause and Effect) and "Love points the way and Law makes the way possible." [13][14] The "Law of Cause and Effect" simply states that every action has a consequence - good, bad, or neutral. It can be described as "You sow what you reap" and "Whatever goes around comes around." The Law of Attraction, as popularized in The Secret (2006 film) is one aspect of that Law. It differs from the Hindu and Buddhist definition of karma in that it is not related to reincarnation and that it happens in this life, as well as the next. [15] Personal responsibility is a major tenet of RS/SOM.

RS/SOM believes that people can achieve more fulfilling lives through the practice called Spiritual Mind Treatment (Treatment), or Affirmative Prayer. Spiritual Mind Treatment is a step-by-step process, in which one states the desired outcome as if it has already happened. In that way, it differs from traditional prayer, since it does not ask God for assistance. It declares human partnership with God to achieve success. Treatment is to be stated as personal (first person), positive, powerful (with feeling), and present (is happening right now). The goal is to gain clarity in thinking that guides action to be consistent with the desired outcome. The Treatment is believed to set off a new chain of causation in Mind that leads one to act according to the good for which one is treating. [16] Spiritual Mind Treatment, as currently taught in RS/SOM centers, contains five steps: Recognition, Unification, Realization, Thanksgiving, and Release. [17] Some adherents of RS/SOM also use supplemental meditation techniques, including "Visioning" [18]

Core concepts

According to The Science of Mind, the ten core concepts of RS/SOM (as taught in the "Fundamentals of Science of Mind" class) are:[19]

  1. There is One Cosmic Reality Principle and Presence in the Universe - God. All creation originates in this One Source. God is. God is all there is. EXPLANATION: God is not one thing, but rather every thing in the Cosmos (i.e. everything seen and unseen in this and all other parallel dimensions of the Universe). It is not only present in, but IS the entire Universe.
  2. God is threefold (triune) in nature, having three aspects or modes of being within the One: Spirit, Soul and Body. This is God seen as the Universal Macrocosm. EXPLANATION: The term "Universal Macrocosm" is another term for all dimensions of the Universe.
  3. Spirit is the great Causative Power of the Universe. The Word, or thought, of God eternally initiates the Divine Creative Process. In this process, Law is continuously set in motion to create, from the Unformed Substance, innumerable forms which follow the thought-patterns of Spirit. EXPLANATION: God consciously initiates creation with thought and thereby forms all things from unformed substance by using Its Soul (i.e. the impersonal Law of Cause and Effect - that is "What you sow is what you reap." See further explanation in the second paragraph of this "Teachings and Practices" Section. Since God is everything (see #1), humans are part of God. and humans can also create in this way, on the human level.
  4. In the Infinite Nature of God, all conceivable Good is eternally available, ready to flow into human experience. Through some cosmic Process, this flow of Good is activated and/or increased by human belief, faith, and acceptance. The expression of this essential belief, faith, and acceptance is prayer. EXPLANATION: "Prayer" is "Spiritual Mind Treatment" (see third paragraph of this section, above). This is the main Religious Science technique to tap into God (defined in #1 as "all there is" - i.e. Its "Infinite Nature") to create all the good we desire on the human level, analogous to God creating on the Universe level (see #3). This requires faith in the knowledge that the technique is working right now.
  5. This is a Universe of Wholeness, Allness, Oneness. Spirit is a transcendent, perfect Wholeness that, in Its infinite inclusivity, harmoniously embraces all seeming opposites. EXPLANATION: Since the Universe is defined as God (see #1), these are some of the attributes of God.
  6. This is a Universe of infinite abundance, spiritual, mental, and physical. This Bounty of Spirit, this Allness of Good, is limitless and can never be depleted. EXPLANATION: Again, since the Universe is defined as God (see #1), these are some of the attributes of God.
  7. This is a reciprocal Universe. For every visible form, there is an invisible counterpart. Everything in nature tends to equalize itself, to keep its balance true. EXPLANATION: This is the Law of Cause and Effect (See further explanation in the second paragraph of this "Teachings and Practices" Section).
  8. The Universe exists in the Eternal Now, each moment complete and perfect within itself. In this Universal Harmony, justice without judgment is always automatic, an infallible Universal Principle. There can be no place for Divine anger, unforgiveness, or punishment. EXPLANATION: God's and human's thoughts, actions, and manifestations can only occur in the present. The Law of Cause and Effect is always working. We make our "Heaven and Hell" experiences every moment in the present, with the choices we make. To the extent that mankind achieves the Divine attributes, it evolves into God's attributes.
  9. Immortality is a Universal Principle, not a "belief' or a bargain made with the Universe for good behavior. God knows only Life, its eternal continuity, evolution, and expansion. EXPLANATION: Religious Scientists know (rather than believe) that life evolves in this as well as all other dimensions, even after our souls make their transition into those dimensions. In this case, the term "Universal" means "no exceptions."
  10. The mystic concept of the Cosmic Christ is not that of a person, but of a Principle, a Universal Presence ... the Universal Image of God present in all creation ... the "pattern that connects." EXPLANATION: The term "Cosmic Christ" here is a metaphor for that God-like consciousness that was and is present in all the Prophets and other enlightened people who have and are using this Principle to assist in the positive evolution of mankind, society, and/or their own personal lives. "Christ" was not Jesus' last name, but rather a title for an enlightened person that was created and given to him before the 12th century A.D. [20]

Organizations

The major organizations for Religious Science are:

  • United Centers for Spiritual Living (UCSL) (formerly) United Church of Religious Science (UCRS)[21]
  • Religious Science International (RSI)[22]
  • Global Religious Science Ministries (GRSM)

[23]

  • Affiliated New Thought Network (Independent Religious Science Ministries)[24]

See also

Key contributors

Notes

  1. ^ United Church of Religious Science FAQ
  2. ^ Vahle(1993) p7
  3. ^ Holmes, Ernest (1926). The Science of Mind. ISBN 0874778654, p.191
  4. ^ Braden p.295, 289-291
  5. ^ Anderson(2003) pp. 26-28
  6. ^ Holmes, Ernest (1926). The Science of Mind. ISBN 0874778654.
  7. ^ Vahle(1993) p146
  8. ^ Anderson(2003) Introduction
  9. ^ Vahle(1993) pp. 2-3
  10. ^ What We Believe, Ernest Holmes
  11. ^ Vahle(1993) p7
  12. ^ Holmes(1926) pp. 25-60
  13. ^ Vahle(1993) pp. 12, 13
  14. ^ Holmes(1926) p43
  15. ^ Dictionary definition of "karma" http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/karma
  16. ^ Holmes(1926) pp.181-323
  17. ^ Vahle(1993) p150
  18. ^ Visioning, United Church of Religious Science
  19. ^ Holmes(1926) p63-105, 108-111, 137-162, 266-293, 357-389
  20. ^ Merriam Webster on-line Dictionary, link http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Christ
  21. ^ http://www.religiousscience.org/
  22. ^ http://www.rsintl.org/
  23. ^ http://www.grsm.org/
  24. ^ http://www.newthought.org/

References

  • Vahle, Neal (1993). Open at the top: The life of Ernest Holmes. Open View Press. pp. 190 pages. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Braden, Charles Samuel. Spirits in Rebellion: The Rise and Development of New Thought. ISBN 0870740253. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Anderson, C. Alan (2003). New Thought: A Practical American Spirituality (Revised Edition). ISBN 1410701727. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • Holmes, Ernest (1926). The Science of Mind. ISBN 0874778654. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
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