November/December 2004

Science of mind: A philosophy of life

By Roz Brown

“Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life's cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another, you have only an extemporaneous, half possession. That which each can do best, none but his Maker can teach him.” - from Self-Reliance, by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ernest Holmes, the chief advocate of Science of Mind principles, regularly quoted the American author, poet and philospher Ralph Waldo Emerson. No surprise, as both Emerson and Holmes were passionate about education, vocation and advancing their ideas. And both faced difficult financial and life circumstances before finding a satisfactory path in life. At the same time, Emerson and Holmes fiercely protected their integrity while promoting convictions that eventually resonated with a larger audience.

For Holmes, the search began at 15, when he left school to support himself and explore his unquenchable thirst for what he called the "truth." This search eventually led him to establish an institute that evolved into the United Church of Religious Science. The church promoted Science of Mind, a philosophy that supports one God, creator of all life, called by various names, genderless and formless. Science of Mind believes humankind is one with God, making separation impossible, supporting instead the unity of all life.

The youngest of nine sons born on a small Maine farm in 1887, Holmes left home for Boston at a young age to study at a school affiliated with the New Thought Movement. There, he devoured the works of Emerson, Phineas Quimby, Emma Curtis Hopkins, W.W. Atkinson, Thomas Troward and others. Holmes moved to California and began a public speaking career based on his synthesis of many of these revolutionary ideas. In 1926, he published The Science of Mind, his monumental work. Despite his initial reluctance, others convinced him to start a group, which he did in 1927, calling it the Institute of Religious Science and School of Philosophy.

Not to be confused with the Christian Science Church founded by Mary Baker Eddy or L. Ron Hubbard's Scientology, Holmes' vision was nonetheless unconventional in his approach to religion. He did not refer to his groups as “churches” because they more closely resembled self-help groups emphasizing self-healing and self-realization. He expected his organization to appeal to adherents of all religious beliefs, as well as to those who had no particular religious convictions.

Holmes believed that the Science of Mind “reveals that every man is a potential Christ; every man has inherent God-power within him.” In making such a claim, he set himself and his church apart from traditional Christian belief. He viewed Jesus of Nazareth as a great example of humanity, rather than the great exception.

“Religious Science does not deny the divinity of Jesus,” Holmes wrote, “but it does affirm the divinity of all people. It does not deny that Jesus was the Son of God; but affirms that all beings are children of God. It does not deny that the Kingdom of God was revealed through Jesus; but affirms that the Kingdom of God is also revealed through you and me.”

In his radio and television programs called This Thing Called Life, Holmes began each broadcast with a similar invocation. “There is a power for good in the Universe, and you can use it.” This simple but profound belief was at the center of all that Holmes attempted to impart to followers. He also taught an affirmative method of prayer, still used today, that he called Spiritual Mind Treatment. It involves a five-step process that embodies all of the elements of the creative process of life itself:

1. Recognition: In which God is recognized as “all there is.”

2. Unification: Acknowledging a oneness with God.

3. Realization: Acknowledging that what is sought is already manifested and part of current experience.

4. Thanksgiving: Giving thanks that what is sought is already accomplished.

5. Release: Giving thanks and acknowledgement that what is sought is already accomplished and releasing it all to God, knowing it is already done.

The minister of Lafayette's New Horizon Church of ReligioScience has found the philosophy to be more meaningful than her traditional Catholic upbringing. The Reverend Marsha Meghdadpour was in her early 40s when she left a 28-year long stint in corporate America to pursue the principles of Religious Science.

“I think the message often speaks to people as they mature in life,” says Meghdadpour. “It’s a recognition that there's a channel within me, not outside of me and this approach allows me to deepen my understanding and faith.”

Meghdadpour believes that the nature of the experience promoted by Science of Mind is peace and harmony, and that when people pursue that experience, the universe supports their goodness. “We don't think of ourselves as sinners, but rather as children of God,” says Meghdadpour. “Meaning I'm not limited to a left-brained approach to life - I can experience a more powerful dynamic.”

In Colorado, the largest United Church of Religious Science is the Mile Hi Church in Lakewood. Mile Hi differentiates its approach as a teaching ministry, and not a preaching ministry. “We teach that the basic principles of Science of Mind and Spirit are love and law,” says Marjorie Staum, associate minister at Mile Hi. “There is only one power, the power of love, the power of God, and there is a Law that responds to our thinking. We call this a science because it is based on spiritual laws.” Just as laws of physics govern the physical world, spiritual laws govern our lives, Staum says. Spiritual laws are as absolute as natural laws like gravity, and they’re impersonal - they don’t judge, they don’t punish “bad” or reward “good” behavior. And we’re using them all the time, whether we’re aware of it or not.

Both the Lafayette and Lakewood churches offer lectures and educational/informative programs, and also hold Sunday services like many other religions. The service includes spiritual readings, often from Holmes’ own writings, inspirational music, a formal message in a sermon-like form, affirmative prayer and silent meditation - plus the obligatory coffee hour. The Lafayette group has about 50 members, while Mile Hi, at nearly 45 years old, has three Sunday services to accommodate some 8,000 members.

The specific music, readings and prayers are determined by each church. For instance, Meghdadpour spent several months exploring the concepts in the recently published Power of Intentions, by Wayne Dyer. One church may be studying the Ways of the Mystic by Joan Borysenko while another is focusing on material from the classic Course in Miracles. Perhaps because of the use of unconventional texts, the church is often asked about its association with “new age” principles; members and affiliates respond that Science of Mind was founded on “new thought” principles although practices such as meditation, belief in untraditional healing and affirmative prayer parallel each other.

World-wide, there are 250 congregations with more than 40,000 members from California to the Ukraine. The church also publishes a monthly magazine, Science of Mind, with a circulation of over 150,000. Holmes had only hoped that the principles he synthesized would outlive him, but in starting a new church he closely followed Emerson's ideology from an earlier decade. Emerson said, “The true preacher can be known by this, that he deals out to the people his life - life passed through the fire of thought.”

Science of mind Resources, local and beyond

For more information, see the following:

• Creative Mind and Success by Ernest Homes (Jeremy P. Tarcher, 1997)
• How to Change Your Life by Ernest Holmes (Health Communications, 2nd Edition, 1999)
• Living The Science of Mind by Ernest Holmes (DeVors & Company, 1991)
• Love And Law, Unpublished Teachings by Ernest Holmes edited by Marilyn Leo (De Vorss Publications, 2001)
• The Science of Mind by Ernest Holmes (Putnam Edition,1997)
• www.religiousscience.org

The following are advertisers in Nexus who offer Science of Mind teachings:

• Nancy Kemp, RScP, M.Div.; 303-579-1113
• Mile Hi Church of Religious Science, Lakewood: 303-287-8851; www.milehichurch.org
• www.OasisCSL.org