What is "Religious Science"?

I had some time on my hands, and went a-searching using Blogger's search tool for "Religious Science", the other name that "Science of Mind" goes by, as in Church of Religious Science. And I found some doozies, especially in the misinformed department. Here is what "Religious Science" isn't:

  • It's not to be confused with that other "religious science" that currently has portions of America wanting creationism taught as equal to the theory of evolution.
  • It's not a cult. Seriously. It's just another church and there's no mumbo-jumbo to join, no limits on what books to read, no worshipping the leader, and no brain-washing - unless you count getting a way of ridding yourself of some fears brain-washing.
  • It's not Scientology.
  • It's not Church of Christ, Scientist, either, also known as Christian Science.
  • It's not Christianity, though its founder, Ernest Holmes, used the teachings of Christ as examples and inspiration, and gives a nod to most Americans' Judeo-Christian background.
  • It's not in conflict with Christianity.
  • It's not about being stupid. If you're sick, go see a doctor. Religious Science acknowledges that we understand only what we can accept (and vice-versa), and spontaneous healing can be a hard one to accept or understand.
  • It's not about believing in a punishing God, separate from us. Rather, God is a universal force, a part of everything, including us. Religious = because it involves a god. Science = because it involves your own mind, i.e. the science of psychology, how your thinking influences your experience and vice-versa. There's probably a bit of quantum physics in there, too.
  • It's not stodgy. I never met so many smiling, laughing people in a church as I did with the Science of Mind bunch.

Why do I go on about this? Because back in the day, when I was dark cloud in my own life, I met a woman who told me something surprising (it surprised me, coming from a Lutheran background): God wants me to be rich. My first reaction was "bullshit", but the woman (a friend of my mother's) went on to explain how the world is really set up to be abundant, for every living creature in it. She said a lot more, but that was the idea that made me sit up and take notice, because I was taught that God means for us to struggle. So then I began exploring Religious Science, and I loved it, because for the first time, I found a God who did not make me feel like a loser. Is there sin in Religious Science? Yes. It was once defined for me as not learning from your mistakes. But at least you get to make mistakes!

Comments

Darren said…
Keera, I've been meaning to thank you for this. On your cue, I've started reading about Religious Science. I don't have much of an opinion on it right now, but as I learn more about it, I'll see if it resonates with me.

In following the link that you gave, I found the complete text of the book The Science of Mind by the founder Ernest Shurtleff Holmes. I've converted it to an ebook for my Palm, so if you want to download it, go here:

http://plucker.madphilosopher.ca/#Philosophy

Thanks again!
Keera Ann Fox said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Keera Ann Fox said…
I hope exploring Science of Mind gives you as much of a fun adventure as it gave and gives me.

About the text you've converted to an ebook: May I suggest that you clarify on your download page that it's Science of Mind lessons? The Science of Mind book itself has no lessons and is over 600 pages long, including glossary and index.

I've downloaded the lessons ebook. Thank you, Darren (and very nice to hear from you again)!

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