Religious Science

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For the science of religion, see Religious studies.
"Science of Mind" redirects here. For the magazine published by the Centers for Spiritual Living, see Science of Mind (magazine).

Science of Mind
United Centers for Spiritual Living, Affiliated New Thought Network, International New Thought Alliance
FounderErnest Holmes
Origin1927
Los Angeles, California
Congregations400
Official websiteCenters for Spiritual Living

The Religious Science movement, or Science of Mind, was established in 1926 by Ernest Holmes and is a spiritual, philosophical and 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 use the terms interchangeably.

The movement was established with the 1926 publication of

United Centers for Spiritual Living (which combined into the Centers for Spiritual Living in 2011) and Global Religious Science Ministries
are the main denominations promoting Religious Science.

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

Spiritual Mind Treatment", and by the writings of Judge Thomas Troward and Ralph Waldo Emerson, as he developed his own synthesis, which became known as Religious Science or Science of Mind.[2][3]

In 1926 Holmes published The Science of Mind,

Divine Science, and he was an ordained Divine Science Minister.[8] He saw humans as being "open at the top"—that is, open to the evolutionary improvement of consciousness in all areas of life.[9] 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."[10]

The ideas put forth by Holmes attracted famous celebrities of his time including

Sacramento, where he served as that church's minister from 1971 until his death in 1975.[13][14]

Teaching and practice

New Thought
Divinity
Beliefs
Activities
Glossary

The RS/SOM teaching generally incorporates

Christ Consciousness, or God. It teaches that, because God is all there is in the universe (not just present in Heaven, or in assigned deities), its power can be used by all humans to the extent that they recognize and align themselves with Its presence.[15] Ernest Holmes said, "God is not ... a person, but a Universal Presence ... already in our own soul, already operating through our own consciousness."[1]

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".[16] 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."[17][18] The "Law of Cause and Effect" simply states that every action has a consequence—creative, destructive, or neutral. It can be described as Jesus Christ stated, "You reap what you sow" and "The bread you cast upon the water, comes back to you". The Law of Attraction is one aspect of that Law. It differs from the Hindu definition of karma in that it is not related to reincarnation and that it happens in this life. Personal responsibility is a major tenet of RS/SOM.

RS/SOM teaches 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. It declares human partnership with Infinite Intelligence 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 the mind that leads one to act according to the good for which one is treating.[19] Spiritual Mind Treatment, as currently taught in RS/SOM centers, contains five steps: Recognition, Unification, Declaration, Thanksgiving, and Release.[20] Some adherents of RS/SOM also use supplemental meditation techniques.[21]

Organizations

Founder's Church, Los Angeles

There are three major organizations for Religious Science: Centers for Spiritual Living, the Affiliated New Thought Network, and the Global Religious Science Ministries. Centers for Spiritual Living is the largest organization teaching Religious Science (Science of Mind) and has over 400 communities around the world. Its organization also continues to publish the works of Ernest Holmes as well as the monthly magazine, Science of Mind.

See also

  • List of pantheist groups

References

  1. ^ a b Vahle 1993, p. 7.
  2. ^ Braden 1963, pp. 295, 289–291.
  3. ^ Anderson & Whitehouse 2003, pp. 26–28.
  4. ^ Holmes 1926.
  5. ^ Holmes 1926, pp. 87, 98, 496.
  6. ^ Holmes 1926, pp. 483–504.
  7. ^ Holmes 1926, pp. 76, 78, 329, 342, 344, 428.
  8. ^ Mosley 2006, p. 47.
  9. ^ Vahle 1993, p. 146.
  10. ^ Anderson & Whitehouse 2003, p. Introduction.
  11. ^ Vahle 1993, pp. 2–3.
  12. ISSN 0508-6930
    .
  13. ProQuest 1401273197
    . Les Mitchel, former actor and motion picture-radio director, died Jan. 12 in Sacramento, where he had made his home since 1971. In recent years, he had been active in church work, starting in 1961 and headquartering variously in Oklahoma City, Cleveland and Alburquerque.
  14. ^ "Obituaries: Dr. Lester Mitchel". The Sacramento Bee. January 14, 1975. p. B2. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  15. ^ "Learn About the What We Believe". Centers for Spiritual Living. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  16. ^ Holmes 1926, pp. 25–60.
  17. ^ Vahle 1993, pp. 12–13.
  18. ^ Holmes 1926, p. 43.
  19. ^ Holmes 1926, pp. 181–323.
  20. ^ Vahle 1993, p. 150.
  21. ^ "Spiritual Tools". Centers for Spiritual Living. Retrieved January 31, 2023.

Sources

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