What
is Religious Science?
Religious
Science is a spiritual philosophy for the modern man and woman. It is
based on the Truth which arises in every culture in the form of science,
philosophy, and religion. Religious Science views religion as a source
of wisdom for revealing the Truth about the seemingly unknown forces
that shape our universe. This enables us to participate in our own life
as a co-creator with the Divine. Religious Science was founded by Dr.
Ernest Holmes, a self-taught philosopher who rigorously studied all
of the world's Spiritual paths for most of his life. In 1927, he wrote
The Science of Mind, which synthesized the truths that he discerned
were present throughout all of the world's faiths. That book is the
foundation of the principles of Religious Science. He never intended
to begin a new faith, but was persuaded to allow a church to be created
to assure that the principles he synthesized would outlive him.
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Are
Religious Science and Science of Mind the Same?
Yes.
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Why
is this called Religious Science?
Ernest
Holmes used the terms "Science of Mind," which he called
the book that describes his synthesis of the truths running through
all of the religions of the world, and "Religious Science"
interchangeably. He believed that religion and science were truly
complimentary, and named his organization the Church of Religious Science
to show that. He believed that, eventually, science would prove what
the mystics have been saying for thousands of years about the nature
of God, human beings, and the universe. His beliefs have been borne
out by many modern scientists, who have found that the universe is truly
made up of energy. Religious Science, along with all of the mystics
of the ages, knows that that energy is God.
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What
is United Center for Spiritual Living?
United
Center for Spiritual Living (UCSL) is the governing body of over 200
Religious Science Centers and Societies around the world. It is the
body which charters centers, licenses and ordains Community Spiritual
Leaders, licenses Religious Science Practitioners, and creates curriculum
for Science of Mind Classes. UCSL is headquartered in Burbank, California.
A CORE Council (Consciousness of Reality
Evolving), consisting of ordained ministers and lay members,
oversees the operations of UCSL. UCSL has published Science of Mind
Magazine since 1927 and hosts the annual UCSL Conference at Asilomar
in Pacific Grove, California.
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What
does Science of Mind believe about God?
God is
that transcendent and beautiful Mystery: the Origin of all; the Sustainer
of all; the Truth of all that is. Presence and Principle; Love and Law;
Life Itself, and the Substance of all form -- that is, in part, our
concept of God, but no person can fully explain what God is, since God
is infinite.
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What
does Science of Mind believe about the Bible?
It is among
many sacred scriptures, all of which were inspired by the One Mind and
presented through various spiritual teachers. We believe that for Western
people, the Judeo-Christian scriptures offer an appropriate path to
spiritual freedom.
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Does
Science of Mind believe in the Ten Commandments?
Yes, for
we affirm the validity of this wise and useful code of conduct, this
intelligent and loving life pattern.
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What
is the Science of Mind belief about Jesus?
We accept
his example and teachings. We do not deny the divinity of Jesus, but
rather we affirm the divinity of all people, because God is the Creator
of us all. We think of Jesus as an example, not an exception.
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Does
Science of Mind believe Jesus is our Savior?
Any world-teacher
who helps human-kind to be free from material, intellectual, or emotional
bondage is a spiritual "savior." Jesus showed us a way to
be free, perhaps the most effective way ever know, and it can indeed
release mankind from bondage.
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Does
Science of Mind believe in good and evil?
God is
the Source of all, beyond good and evil. God simply is. In human life,
our freedom allows us to make mistakes (so-called "sin").
Our comparison of action to what has been better, leads us to ideas
of good or evil. However, they are human inventions, for ultimately
there is only God: Infinite Love and Truth.
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Does
Science of Mind believe in a "Hereafter"?
We believe
in the eternal now, which includes both here and hereafter, for
life is an ever-unfolding experience of God's Self-Expression. There
is much, much more to Life than what this world contains. We do not,
however, believe in a sudden change in our whole nature when we leave
this plane, for we retain our individual identity. And so it is that
"immortality" is not something awaiting us in the future,
because we are immortal now! In other, yet unseen dimensions of life,
there are new fields to conquer, new challenges, new and beautiful Truths
to discover in an unlimited and divine, Cosmic Universe.
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Does
Science of Mind believe in Eternal Damnation?
No, we
do not. God does not create life and then destroy or condemn it. As
free individuals, we may bring great difficulties upon ourselves, but
that is as near as we come to so-called damnation. Then it is God, as
perfect Law, Love, and Truth, to whom we may turn for release from these
difficulties. The choice is always ours.
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Does
Science of Mind believe in Heaven?
There are
certain exalted inner states of consciousness which may be more like
the "Kingdom of Heaven" than our everyday life on earth, but
we must always realize that God is here and now, and to know
this is to sense something of what heaven is.
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Does
Science of Mind believe in Hell?
Heaven
and hell are states of mind, and neither is a literal geographical place.
Modern science has demonstrated that there is no actual "up"
or "down" in this universe, where heaven or hell must be.
Both are in our minds.
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Does
Science of Mind believe in miracles?
Everything
that occurs in our lives is simply the outpicturing of our consciousness
operating through the Law of Mind. Therefore, those events that seem
to be miraculous in nature are actually the Law acting at a level beyond
our awareness. As we evolve our consciousness, what previously seemed
miraculous becomes a natural, normal and understandable way of life.
In actuality, there is only one miracle, this is Life itself.
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What
about prayer?
Religious
Science honors and endorses all forms of sincere prayer. In addition,
it teaches a unique and scientific form of prayer called Spiritual Mind
Treatment. This is a powerful, affirmative method of prayer that was
developed by Dr. Ernest Holmes, the founder of Religious Science. Spiritual
Mind Treatment is a prayer of recognition of Spirit's Omniscience, Omnipotence,
and Omnipresence, and a realization of man's unity with Spirit. Through
prayer we recognize a spiritual law, and put ourselves in aligment with
it.
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What
about meditation?
Meditation
is the time honored technique for taming, training and transforming
the mind. Religious Science endorses all forms of meditation, from creative
visualization to the more traditional mind stilling techniques. It is
through meditation that we come into a state of God communion and thereby
experience a greater sense of unity of all life.
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What
is an affirmation?
The term
affirmation is normally associated with a verbal statement that is made
about some goal that we are trying to achieve, or some experience we
desire to have. However, the act of affirmation is really much more
than that. It is an act of faith. It is the ability to put aside your
doubt and fear in order to act as if your desired goal were already
a reality. In this sense, an affirmation can be any statement, act,
or symbolic gesture that affirms the reality of your intentions. Through
the process of affirmation we "act as if" our highest aspirations
were already a reality.
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Do you
go to doctors?
Yes. Religious
Scientists believe that all is God, and that God is expressed through
doctors and medicine just as God is expressed through all of the physical
universe. Religious Science believes in spiritual as well as physical
healing, and Religious Science Practitioners often work in conjunction
with doctors and other physical and mental health practitioners to facilitate
healing.
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Is this
Christian Science?
No, but
Ernest Holmes studied with many of the spiritual leaders of his time,
as well as the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian
Science. Religious Science attracts many from the Christian Science
tradition.
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Is this
related to Scientology?
No. Religious
Science was founded in 1927 by Dr. Ernest Holmes. Scientology was founded
in 1960 by L. Ron Hubbard. Other than the use of the word "science"
in both names there are no similarities.
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Do you
believe in reincarnation?
Religious
Science neither endorses nor rejects any particular theory or concept
of reincarnation. Since life is eternal, there are an unlimited number
of possibilities for its evolvement after the experience of physical
death. In Religious Science, we accept the on-goingness of life and
we deal with what is before us in the present moment.
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Is this
a cult?
No. Religious
Science teaches that each individual has the power over and the responsibility
for his or her own life. Religious Science highly discourages the following
of or dependence upon any one person, including founder Ernest Holmes
or any present ministers or teachers. Religious Science challenges people
to think for themselves and only believe what rings true for them. One
must look into one's own heart for truth.
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Is this
New Age?
Religious
Science is a New Thought philosophy. Although many people with
New Age leanings are attracted to Religious Science and some of the
practices of Religious Science such as meditation are also practiced
by those who consider themselves New Age, Religious Science does not
consider itself a New Age Religion. Religious Science honors all paths
that lead to God, whether they be Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu,
Muslim, New Age, or any other spiritual paths.
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