The TENNESSEAN Article by Rev. Dyann on 2/10/07
Message of the Week:
Religious Science believes in the divinity in all people
What is Religious Science? Religious Science is not Scientology or Christian Science. Many people think it is related because of the word "Science." Science simply means "to know." The most accurate comparison would be with the Unity Church. Both of our founders studied under the same metaphysical teacher, Emma Curtis Hopkins. Our founder, Dr. Ernest Holmes encouraged us to remain "open minded" and thought it arrogant that anyone would claim to fully understand the infinite. While we share the belief with Christian Scientists of healing through prayer, we believe that God works through doctors and medicine. Also, Religious Science is a very positive teaching; in fact, Norman Vincent Peale studied Ernest Holmes and was inspired by those ideas, which he wrote about in his best-selling book The Power of Positive Thinking.
Dr. Ernest Holmes wrote The Science of Mind textbook, and upon those teachings, the organization of Religious Science was founded. When you hear the words "change your thinking, change your life," Religious Science should come to mind, because that is the basis of our teaching. Many of you have seen or heard about the new movie sweeping the country The Secret. It is excellent, but as I watched it, I thought, well, this is no secret to Religious Scientists because that has been a part of our teaching since the early 1920s. "The Law of Attraction" is basic Science of Mind along with the idea that thoughts are things; that we create our reality according to our beliefs; that there is a power for good in the universe and we can use it; and that there is only one God and we are all a part of it.
Many Religious Scientists consider themselves "New Thought" Christians, in that they believe Jesus was the great example (not the great exception). He showed us the way and said, "follow me" and "these things I do, you can do even greater." We believe that we are all sons and daughters of God, and that the Christ consciousness that Jesus lived and personified is within each of us. We believe that Jesus "saved" us only in the sense that he taught us how to save ourselves. "It is done unto you as you believe" and "As you sow so shall you reap " is just some of that wisdom.
What I love about Science of Mind is that it draws from ALL sacred texts and religions, the many great master teachers and philosophers, and from the laws of science. Dr. Ernest Holmes was a voracious reader and avid new thought student who found the common thread that ran through all major religions, philosophy and science. He articulated it into a wonderful teaching that makes sense to the head, while feeling right in the heart. Religious Science believes in the divinity in all people and honors the many paths to God. We do not believe in duality but rather in unity. We believe that we are a connected whole; that we are all one. Therefore, we believe, there can be no "other" power. There is only God. "Evil" is simply our experience of being separated from God. But, the moment we "remember," the separation is gone, because it was just an illusion to begin with.
The real secret is that what we are looking for is not "out there," it is within, as close as our next breath, closer than our own heartbeat. As we turn to God, God turns to us. Most of us spend a lifetime looking outside of ourselves for everything, when the real gift is just quietly waiting within us for our attention. Science of Mind teaches "Spiritual Mind Treatment" (our version of affirmative prayer), which is the cornerstone of this teaching. Through this practice, we learn to consistently go within; to become clear on our intentions; to declare and affirm the spiritual truth; to know that our deepest desires are already fulfilled; and to be the whole, complete and perfect infinite and eternal spiritual beings that we already are, while experiencing a healthy, abundant and prosperous human life. Now THAT is good news, don't you think? And so it is!
Creative Thought Magazine Article 7/1/08
Reverence and Reason
(by Rev.'s Dyann & Michael Woody)
Can reverence and reason be reconciled? For many agnostics, atheists and people who are spiritually disenchanted with organized religion, the short answer would be no. For those of us with a New Thought persuasion, the definitive answer would be a resounding yes followed by, "Thank God, I finally found something that makes sense to my head and feels true in my heart!"
The traditional Judeo/Christian concept of God that culturally which many of us were brought up to believe in, not only left us scratching our heads, it made many of us feel outraged at the obvious contradictions and hypocrisies. The old beliefs conflicted with our logic and good common sense, and we were encouraged not to question the status quo, but to just 'have faith'.
This very experience prompted many of us to forge our own path to understanding ourselves and the universe in which we live. Contrary to what the moral majority might think, our friend Jana coined it beautifully by saying, "we are not lost; we're just exploring." What we have experienced personally and seen time and time again in the lives fellow 'truth seekers', is this; Although the path may be bumpy ride with lots of twists and turns, we and others like us usually find ourselves having a real experience of God.
There are two places where we find reverence and reason reconciling perfectly in our own lives. The first is in a 12 step program, where we are encouraged to find a God of our own understanding. The second is in our textbook, The Science of Mind, by Dr. Ernest Holmes. Dr. Holmes formulated a brilliant teaching that draws from all major religions. He identified the thread of Truth that runs through them all. He included the wisdom of our master teachers, greatest thinkers and most prominent philosophers then added the laws of science, all of which were synthesized into a practical and spiritual teaching which is now known as Science of Mind.
We believe that there is only one God, that we are all a part of It, and that we live in a cause-and- effect universe whose laws we can use to demonstrate good in our lives through the clear intention of our convictions. This teaching is where head and heart come together, where religion and science walk hand in hand. This is where unity trumps duality. It is a metaphysical teaching not a literal one. It supports and proves the Truth that lies at the core of our being, it., that we are, in fact, all One.
Science of Mind honors all paths to God and recognizes the divinity in all people. It encourages us to remain open minded and asks that we not accept any doctrine or theory over the practical application of spiritual principles. It claims the proof of said principles demonstrated in our lives is more important than any doctrine or theory. It encourages self-responsibility and conscious right thinking. It requires a willingness to allow a greater understanding of Truth to be revealed.
This teaching is for the brave - not the timid. It is for those who dance to the beat of a different drummer.