At a time of contagious disease
At a time of contagious disease, Christian Scientists endeavor to rise in consciousness to the true sense of the omnipotence of Life, Truth, and Love, and this great fact in Christian Science realized will stop a contagion. (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 116:2)
Word count: 3950
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What is Contagion?
From MBE’s article on CONTAGION - the first few lines: “Whatever man sees, feels, or in any way takes cognizance of, must be caught through mind; since perception, sensation, and consciousness belong to mind and not to matter. …
“People believe in infectious and contagious diseases, and that anyone is liable to have them under certain predisposing or exciting causes. This mental state prepares one to have any disease whenever there appear the circumstances which he believes produce it.” (Misc. 228:21–24, 30–4)
The nature of contagion is human belief - a mortal narrative, a fabrication or illusion. We make up a story, look to matter and personality to build it up, step into that story, and then believe it and try to get others to believe it - and then point to further material evidence as justification for it!
But matter and its effects — sin, sickness, and death — are states of mortal mind that act, react, and then come to a stop. They are not facts of Mind. They are illusions. (See Science and Health p. 283:8).
Flimsy fearful beliefs build on each other and if not checked, can escalate and solidify as conviction in human consciousness - only to be dissolved with the neutralizing activity of Truth
Webster’s Dictionary (1828 edition) includes this definition:
CONTAGION, noun [Latin, to touch.]
“Colds, coughs, and contagion are engendered solely by human theories. Mortal mind produces its phenomena, and then charges them to something else,... (Science and Health, p. 220:16–21)
“Floating with the popular current of mortal thought without questioning the reliability of its conclusions, we do what others do, believe what others believe, and say what others say. Common consent is contagious, and it makes disease catching.” (Misc pp. 228:24)
So what is our defense?
We have the instruction from Romans: “ And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
(Rom 12:2)
We have the God-given authority to choose to not be conformed to this world. To not give our consent to this world and this material belief.
Conformity deals with consent. Again – “Common consent is contagious, and it makes disease catching.” (Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, p. 228:28) But thought can be lifted above the popular thought about contagious disease. Christian Science explains why we are exempt from disease and from “conforming” to the world’s consent that disease is inevitable.
Isn’t contagion then about communicating, accepting, and even cherishing a lie?
A good example of “cherishing” a lie comes from the media:
“The press unwittingly sends forth many sorrows and diseases among the human family. It does this by giving names to diseases and by printing long descriptions which mirror images of disease distinctly in thought. A new name for an ailment affects people like a Parisian name for a novel garment. Everyone hastens to get it” (Science and Health pp. 196:31–5).
Here, contagion is explained as a social phenomenon, a popularizing or cherishing of the desired thing, thus carrying with it a moral element. (Note: “moral” in Webster’s 1828 edition, relates to the conduct of man as social beings, and today it is defined as that which governs behavior.)
Mrs. Eddy talks about moral contagion: “Matter, which takes divine power into its own hands and claims to be a creator, is a fiction, in which paganism and lust are so sanctioned by society that mankind has caught their moral contagion” (Science and Health, p. 170:32).
This moral contagion is messing with all kinds of established belief systems and then mortal mind builds on this confusion with its own superstructure of a sandcastle-type architecture. “Matter, or body, is but a false concept of mortal mind., ….”(SH p. 177:8).
What happens to our belief systems during contagious times where in addition to germs we are seeing the contagion of hatred, disinformation, and divisiveness, and what is the best healing response?
These belief systems are false concepts crumbling, showing their weakness and revealing the substance of what needs to be confirmed spiritually. For example….
Where are our anchor and rudder? They cannot be based on variable human opinions, or fabricated/manipulated fear, but our anchor and rudder must be on the permanent and fixed Principle of Truth. Let’s revisit the impact of the Christ: “CHRIST. The divine manifestation of God, which comes to the flesh to destroy incarnate error” (Science and Health, p. 583:10).
Considering the pandemic, we have no doubt heard and maybe even been involved in, the great fear of the disease, along with its disinformation and divisiveness of decisions weighing individual rights and preferences with social responsibility. Along with the growing influence of the medical model are the accompanying fears that rules based on materia medica are changeable, and can intrude on individual freedoms. It seems that individual freedoms clash with collective responsibility in an additional conflict of distrust of healing methods and their mandates.
So the radical idea that the understanding the “ omnipotence of Life, Truth, and Love” neutralizes error and establishes harmony as supreme, and this “can stop a contagion” – should engage the attention of all spiritual thinkers and those working for the betterment and health of humanity.
Christian Science - as the law of Love, the Comforter - shows that there is one God, one Life, Truth, and Love, and how God’s omnipotent comfort covers us all. Christian Science lifts thought to the spiritual peak of being - where all are spiritual, not material. Rising to this peak in consciousness brings about healing, harmony, and restoration of peace.
The metaphor of mountain climbing illustrates the blessing as the higher we climb, even if we started out on opposite sides of the mountain, the closer we get to each other. Likewise, the higher our understanding of God as omnipotent and who we are as God’s spiritual creation, the closer we get to seeing each other from a higher, spiritual perspective from which we can find healing solutions. We are all one with God, and therefore each other. This healing perspective of our spiritual oneness with God and each other is something that Christian Scientists can bring to the discussion of protecting the public’s health.
Now. let’s drill down on Mortal mind and its own self-destruction
SLIDE: #5
Mortal mind is an illusion, a lie
Why?
Truth always existed
This next section of thai paper deals with matter, or body, –a false concept of mortal mind that builds its own superstructure,.....(See Sciecne and Health, p. 177:8) Many of the ideas were taken from my article, “A healing lesson on what never happened,” from the June 2022 Journal.
If someone were to tell me that last week I left my keys in a restaurant in Boise, Idaho, it would make me suspect. You see, I have never been to Boise, ever. And I am not missing my keys. So the whole effort turns out to be a lie and the effort to get me to be concerned about a situation that never occurred would fail. This proves the point that there is no reaction to something that never happened.
Likewise, if someone were to run up to me because they were concerned that my face was blue, I would check in the mirror, affirm my natural color and let them know that indeed, my face is not blue. This proves another point that there is no evidence of something that never existed.
These two points have metaphysical value. In each case, a lie was presented, proven false by presenting and affirming what is true, and there was no effect from these lies.
But when we are talking about contagion, cancer, danger, accident, or financial loss, and it comes with family history, popular opinions, and reasoned arguments and probabilities (today’s prophecies!), and there are institutions and trusted individuals that claim these things, then we may become fearful, reacting to something we don’t quite understand and expecting to see evidence of things not desired.
Sin, disease, violence, accident, and loss, are all elements of a belief in the frailty and finiteness of things - a material view or error. Belief in these views comes from mortal mind. Mortal mind is erroneous on all points. All of the elements mentioned are error. Again:
So error, in effect, has no law, no origin or cause, nor substance and has only the power we give it or believe it has. But here’s the thing. Before you can have a broken bone, you must have a sound bone; before you can have a disease, you must have health, and you can only tell a lie if there is a truth you are trying to discredit. So error (accident, disease, or sin) is nothing more than a negation of what is real or true. It is a lie. This brings up another metaphysical point: the true idea existed before there was a lie formulated about it.
SLIDE on Mona Lisa! #6
The recent news story of the individual who threw a cream cake at the Mona Lisa painting brings out these ideas:
The true idea existed before there was a lie formulated about it.
Error cannot exist on its own. It runs on borrowed power and needs something to negate.
For example, if it weren’t for the authenticity Mona Lisa, all you would have is a messy cake - and it would mean nothing.
What is the true idea of our lives – of being itself? The true idea is the permanent idea = ... it cannot be reversed, but the reverse of error is true. (Science and Health, p. 442:17–18 truth)
DISCUSSION: What are some of the false beliefs we are reversing?
False beliefs
Reversed to
What is true
fear
Perfect Love
Intelligent matter
The scientific statement of being
Chaos and disorder
“Spirit is the life, substance, and continuity of all things. We tread on forces. Withdraw them, and creation must collapse. (Science and Health p. 124:25–27)
CS is no longer relevant
Christian Science is the law of God, good
I cannot heal
Truth handles the most malignant contagion with perfect assurance. (Science and Health p. 176:31)
violence
There is only one power and attraction; nothing can penetrate God’s protection
The scientific statement of being gives the full reversal of any and all of mortal mind’s claims:
“ ... All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all. ... Spirit is God, and man is His image and likeness. Therefore man is not material; he is spiritual. (Science and Health p. 468)
We can also add another point here by adding “contagion to this statement: ” (Contagion) and Accidents are unknown to God, or immortal Mind, and we must leave the mortal basis of belief and unite with the one Mind, in order to change the notion of chance to the proper sense of God's unerring direction and thus bring out harmony.
(Science and Health, p. 424:5) And because of this: There is no reaction to something that never happened.
“Change the evidence, and that disappears which before seemed real to this false belief, and the human consciousness rises higher. … Faith ... is a chrysalis state of human thought, in which spiritual evidence, contradicting the testimony of material sense, begins to appear, and Truth, the ever-present, is becoming understood. (Science and Health, p. 297:12–15 Change, 20–24)
Being created spiritually, there is no halfway point that shares its power with an opposing truth. There is no opposing truth. And there is no evidence of something that never existed.
Let’s talk more about reversing –not rehearsing– error and establishing what is real’ How do we do that?
“The human thought must free itself from self-imposed materiality and bondage” (SH 191: 16-17). Christ Jesus showed us the way to free ourselves by revealing God, Truth, as the only power, and our oneness with God. His bold dismissal of death, disease, and sin, reduced them to their native dust, or nothingness. ….. Jesus deployed a direct assault on established belief systems that said man is material and vulnerable and went on to establish the kingdom of heaven on earth. In other words, he proved the supremacy and omnipotence of God, Soul, and the governance of the law of harmony as the only reality.
What is real?
As humanity’s cry for something real, safe, substantial, and satisfying is growing, we ask the question: What is real?
In an interview with Keanu Reeves on a popular talk show, he was describing the theme of conflict between actual reality and virtual reality in his popular movie series “The Matrix” to a young student. The young student asked - does it matter what is real or what is virtual?
It’s a profound question. What we feel is real provides the foundation for the meaning and purpose of life out of which come our moral backbone, our capacity to survive and thrive, our ability to innovate and grow spiritually, intellectually, and compassionately. From this foundation comes our capacity to relate to and unite with one another, and strengthen all types of relationships. It provides the fertile ground from which equality, justice, and progress either thrive or die. So…….kinda important.
In Christian Science we are taught the basics of spiritual reality: “All the real is eternal. Perfection underlies reality. Without perfection, nothing is wholly real. All things will continue to disappear, until perfection appears and reality is reached.” (Science and Health, p. 353:16–19)
But matter is expanding toward its own demise. The call for the Comforter is getting louder. Spiritual progress is the growing demand. “The time for thinkers has come. Truth, independent of doctrines and time-honored systems, knocks at the portal of humanity. Contentment with the past and the cold conventionality of materialism are crumbling away” (Science and Health, p. vii:13–17).
And the response to the demand happens when we lift and shift consciousness from the material to the spiritual. We are not able to answer life’s most earnest questions by rearranging mortal and limited responses. The answers come not from the level of the problems, but by going higher - a “rise in consciousness”.
The demand is loud. And the response is immediate, thorough and spiritual - divine Love meets every human need
“This age is reaching out towards the perfect Principle of things; is pushing towards perfection in art, invention, and manufacture. ... Proportionately as we part with material systems and theories, personal doctrines and dogmas, meekly to ascend the hill of Science, shall we reach the maximum of perfection in all things.”(Misc p. 232:6–8, 14) This reaching out is what is happening today.
There’s an “unsatisfied human craving for something better, higher, holier, than is afforded by a material belief in a physical God and man.” (Science and Health, p. 258)
“This age is reaching out towards the perfect Principle of things; is pushing towards perfection in art, invention, and manufacture. ....”(Misc p. 232:6–8, 14). There is progress happening at every corner of thought. Let’s be more active witnesses to this progress going on by witnessing the divine impulse behind all sustainable human progress.
“Every step of progress is a step more spiritual. The great element of reform is not born of human wisdom; it draws not its life from human organizations; rather is it the crumbling away of material elements from reason, the translation of law back to its original language, — Mind, and the final unity between man and God.”(Peo, p. 1:2–7)
As God reigns in heaven, so does God reign on earth. And we are made capable of knowing God’s supremacy and omnipotence. Jesus Christ taught that the kingdom of heaven is within. We can walk together, being comforted with the great fact that God is always with us. Goodness, health, abundance, grace are always with us.
Establishing the kingdom of heaven on earth is making harmony our priority. That is how we see an infinitely diverse population prosper and thrive. The Golden Rule is fully activated and understood and forms the basis on which individual freedoms can prosper and in which the seeker for health, comfort, and peace is free from judgment and free to find whatever it is that blesses one and blesses all.
The higher we grow in our understanding of God’s omnipotence, the more we feel God’s guidance and protection. We see healing progress in our dealings with one another. The higher we go, the more health, harmony, and peace are revealed.
One’s tireless efforts for peace reflect the protection of Principle, the tender care of Love, and the unending quality of Life. These efforts join in with others toward a movement of thought that heals.
Our friend Nehemiah teaches persistence
Think of the building of the wall in Nehemiah. It is rich in its symbolic meaning and yet has lessons of persistence in the vision for our work.
SLIDE #7
“So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work. ...“They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. … (Nehemiah 4:6, 17, 18 (to 1st .))
So what is the lesson here?
No unselfish prayer is a solo effort. We join with others in a collective demonstration, building up a movement of thought that grows as the weights of ignorance, hatred, and prejudice are dropped. The moral baseline of honesty, compassion, temperance, humanity, and hope forwards the momentum.
Thus progress is going on. Thought is shifting from a limited material basis to a more metaphysical and spiritual basis, as evidenced in the colorful and holy diversity of what we all represent - a multifarious reflection of God, Mind, the divine Us.
A fact - a goal - a promise
“One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfils the Scripture, “Love thy neighbor as thyself;” annihilates pagan and Christian idolatry, — whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political, and religious codes; equalizes the sexes; annuls the curse on man, and leaves nothing that can sin, suffer, be punished or destroyed” (Science and Health, p. 340:23).
Keep the high goal always in thought. “When the destination is desirable, expectation speeds our progress.” (Science and Health, p. 426)
We are reversing – not rehearsing - the false law that says disease, discord, division, death are inevitable. And we are replacing it with the law that says ALL things are possible to God.
Omnipotence of Life - we are embracing the resilience and holiness of Life that overpower the pull toward a monopoly of material methods of healing. Life is eternal. “ …. A more spiritual and true ideal of Diety improves the race physically and spiritually.” (Peo. 6: 18). As God is All-in-all, the only Life, Spirit and Mind - so is divine Life the only monopoly, the only attraction. This does not narrow our lives, but stretches us to reach beyond the human and familiar to see the infinitude and eternality of Life.
Omnipotence of Love is expressed as the Golden rule neutralizing division. Love unites and brings together a diverse humanity in which the Golden Rule is practiced and all are included at whatever stage they are; there is no judgement, no coercion, and no polarization. Love’s authority is enforced by the law of harmony and the law of progress that ensure one’s freedoms and love for others are aligned. One’s freedom doesn’t take away from another’s but all are governed perfectly and entirely by divine Mind.
“The great miracle, to human sense, is divine Love, and the grand necessity of existence is to gain the true idea of what constitutes the kingdom of heaven in man” (Science and Health, p. 560:11–15). Love is the motive power behind why Jesus did what he did (see John 3: 16) and why Mrs Eddy did what she did.
Omnipotence of Truth - Knowing the truth that makes free counters the fear of our freedoms being taken away. Truth is always the victor because it is omnipotent – there is no other power. “You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free” says Jesus ( John 8: 32). Living the truth of God and man - that is living out the harmony, humility, and love for God and man - is the fastest and most thorough way to secure our freedom from pandemics and polarization, and from any discord and disease.
Conclusion
As to dealing with a pandemic of not only of disease, but of “dis-ease” – of hatred, self-centeredness, and polarization – we have God’s promise: I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him” (Ezekiel 21:27).
Truth has no opponents, Love does not struggle, Life has no ending, no diminuendo or deterioration. God knows Her creation - perfect, harmonious, pure. God’s power is insistent, persistent, and consistent.
We have this instruction as human consciousness rises higher and higher to Truth, Life, and Love: “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little” Isaiah 28:10). Keep overturning the claim that man is material. Keep ris(ing) in consciousness to the true sense of the omnipotence of Life, Truth and Love” (My 116: 2). Keep learning of humanity’s God-given freedom and keep growing – line upon line, precept upon precept - ad infinitum.
Word count: 3950
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What is Contagion?
From MBE’s article on CONTAGION - the first few lines: “Whatever man sees, feels, or in any way takes cognizance of, must be caught through mind; since perception, sensation, and consciousness belong to mind and not to matter. …
“People believe in infectious and contagious diseases, and that anyone is liable to have them under certain predisposing or exciting causes. This mental state prepares one to have any disease whenever there appear the circumstances which he believes produce it.” (Misc. 228:21–24, 30–4)
The nature of contagion is human belief - a mortal narrative, a fabrication or illusion. We make up a story, look to matter and personality to build it up, step into that story, and then believe it and try to get others to believe it - and then point to further material evidence as justification for it!
But matter and its effects — sin, sickness, and death — are states of mortal mind that act, react, and then come to a stop. They are not facts of Mind. They are illusions. (See Science and Health p. 283:8).
Flimsy fearful beliefs build on each other and if not checked, can escalate and solidify as conviction in human consciousness - only to be dissolved with the neutralizing activity of Truth
Webster’s Dictionary (1828 edition) includes this definition:
CONTAGION, noun [Latin, to touch.]
- . ..a disease by contact or the matter communicated. More generally, that subtle matter which proceeds from a diseased person or body, and communicates the disease to another person;
“Colds, coughs, and contagion are engendered solely by human theories. Mortal mind produces its phenomena, and then charges them to something else,... (Science and Health, p. 220:16–21)
“Floating with the popular current of mortal thought without questioning the reliability of its conclusions, we do what others do, believe what others believe, and say what others say. Common consent is contagious, and it makes disease catching.” (Misc pp. 228:24)
So what is our defense?
We have the instruction from Romans: “ And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
(Rom 12:2)
We have the God-given authority to choose to not be conformed to this world. To not give our consent to this world and this material belief.
Conformity deals with consent. Again – “Common consent is contagious, and it makes disease catching.” (Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, p. 228:28) But thought can be lifted above the popular thought about contagious disease. Christian Science explains why we are exempt from disease and from “conforming” to the world’s consent that disease is inevitable.
Isn’t contagion then about communicating, accepting, and even cherishing a lie?
- Communicating a lie means entertaining it in thought to some degree.
- Accepting a lie means accepting its false claim that it has power.
- Cherishing a lie may be more subtle - like identifying closely with a lie - which can be helpful in finding a way to get out of responsibility or to get attention!
A good example of “cherishing” a lie comes from the media:
“The press unwittingly sends forth many sorrows and diseases among the human family. It does this by giving names to diseases and by printing long descriptions which mirror images of disease distinctly in thought. A new name for an ailment affects people like a Parisian name for a novel garment. Everyone hastens to get it” (Science and Health pp. 196:31–5).
Here, contagion is explained as a social phenomenon, a popularizing or cherishing of the desired thing, thus carrying with it a moral element. (Note: “moral” in Webster’s 1828 edition, relates to the conduct of man as social beings, and today it is defined as that which governs behavior.)
Mrs. Eddy talks about moral contagion: “Matter, which takes divine power into its own hands and claims to be a creator, is a fiction, in which paganism and lust are so sanctioned by society that mankind has caught their moral contagion” (Science and Health, p. 170:32).
This moral contagion is messing with all kinds of established belief systems and then mortal mind builds on this confusion with its own superstructure of a sandcastle-type architecture. “Matter, or body, is but a false concept of mortal mind., ….”(SH p. 177:8).
What happens to our belief systems during contagious times where in addition to germs we are seeing the contagion of hatred, disinformation, and divisiveness, and what is the best healing response?
These belief systems are false concepts crumbling, showing their weakness and revealing the substance of what needs to be confirmed spiritually. For example….
- The economy is changing how we think about money –getting down to the question of how we exchange value.
- Popular culture and social media make us question what is influencing us?
- Wars, random shootings, polarization and division make us ask - Where is peace?
- Issues of human rights and bodily autonomy make us ask who and what are we valuing?
- Disinformation campaigns beg the question - what is Truth?
- a frail sense of physical health and its varying remedies makes us ask - what is health?
- This all deals with the largest question - what is reality? More on this later!
Where are our anchor and rudder? They cannot be based on variable human opinions, or fabricated/manipulated fear, but our anchor and rudder must be on the permanent and fixed Principle of Truth. Let’s revisit the impact of the Christ: “CHRIST. The divine manifestation of God, which comes to the flesh to destroy incarnate error” (Science and Health, p. 583:10).
Considering the pandemic, we have no doubt heard and maybe even been involved in, the great fear of the disease, along with its disinformation and divisiveness of decisions weighing individual rights and preferences with social responsibility. Along with the growing influence of the medical model are the accompanying fears that rules based on materia medica are changeable, and can intrude on individual freedoms. It seems that individual freedoms clash with collective responsibility in an additional conflict of distrust of healing methods and their mandates.
So the radical idea that the understanding the “ omnipotence of Life, Truth, and Love” neutralizes error and establishes harmony as supreme, and this “can stop a contagion” – should engage the attention of all spiritual thinkers and those working for the betterment and health of humanity.
Christian Science - as the law of Love, the Comforter - shows that there is one God, one Life, Truth, and Love, and how God’s omnipotent comfort covers us all. Christian Science lifts thought to the spiritual peak of being - where all are spiritual, not material. Rising to this peak in consciousness brings about healing, harmony, and restoration of peace.
The metaphor of mountain climbing illustrates the blessing as the higher we climb, even if we started out on opposite sides of the mountain, the closer we get to each other. Likewise, the higher our understanding of God as omnipotent and who we are as God’s spiritual creation, the closer we get to seeing each other from a higher, spiritual perspective from which we can find healing solutions. We are all one with God, and therefore each other. This healing perspective of our spiritual oneness with God and each other is something that Christian Scientists can bring to the discussion of protecting the public’s health.
Now. let’s drill down on Mortal mind and its own self-destruction
SLIDE: #5
Mortal mind is an illusion, a lie
Why?
- It has no divine law to authorize them,
- It has no intelligent origin or cause to establish them,
- and it has no substance to give them influence.
- there is no reaction to something that was never established
- there is no evidence of something that never had any substance
Truth always existed
- the true idea existed before there was a lie formulated about it.
- ... truth cannot be reversed, but the reverse of error is true. (Science and Health, p. 442:17–18 truth)
This next section of thai paper deals with matter, or body, –a false concept of mortal mind that builds its own superstructure,.....(See Sciecne and Health, p. 177:8) Many of the ideas were taken from my article, “A healing lesson on what never happened,” from the June 2022 Journal.
If someone were to tell me that last week I left my keys in a restaurant in Boise, Idaho, it would make me suspect. You see, I have never been to Boise, ever. And I am not missing my keys. So the whole effort turns out to be a lie and the effort to get me to be concerned about a situation that never occurred would fail. This proves the point that there is no reaction to something that never happened.
Likewise, if someone were to run up to me because they were concerned that my face was blue, I would check in the mirror, affirm my natural color and let them know that indeed, my face is not blue. This proves another point that there is no evidence of something that never existed.
These two points have metaphysical value. In each case, a lie was presented, proven false by presenting and affirming what is true, and there was no effect from these lies.
But when we are talking about contagion, cancer, danger, accident, or financial loss, and it comes with family history, popular opinions, and reasoned arguments and probabilities (today’s prophecies!), and there are institutions and trusted individuals that claim these things, then we may become fearful, reacting to something we don’t quite understand and expecting to see evidence of things not desired.
Sin, disease, violence, accident, and loss, are all elements of a belief in the frailty and finiteness of things - a material view or error. Belief in these views comes from mortal mind. Mortal mind is erroneous on all points. All of the elements mentioned are error. Again:
- they have no divine law to authorize them,
- they have no intelligent origin or cause to establish them,
- and they have no substance to give them influence or power to leave an imprint!
So error, in effect, has no law, no origin or cause, nor substance and has only the power we give it or believe it has. But here’s the thing. Before you can have a broken bone, you must have a sound bone; before you can have a disease, you must have health, and you can only tell a lie if there is a truth you are trying to discredit. So error (accident, disease, or sin) is nothing more than a negation of what is real or true. It is a lie. This brings up another metaphysical point: the true idea existed before there was a lie formulated about it.
SLIDE on Mona Lisa! #6
The recent news story of the individual who threw a cream cake at the Mona Lisa painting brings out these ideas:
The true idea existed before there was a lie formulated about it.
Error cannot exist on its own. It runs on borrowed power and needs something to negate.
For example, if it weren’t for the authenticity Mona Lisa, all you would have is a messy cake - and it would mean nothing.
What is the true idea of our lives – of being itself? The true idea is the permanent idea = ... it cannot be reversed, but the reverse of error is true. (Science and Health, p. 442:17–18 truth)
DISCUSSION: What are some of the false beliefs we are reversing?
False beliefs
Reversed to
What is true
fear
Perfect Love
Intelligent matter
The scientific statement of being
Chaos and disorder
“Spirit is the life, substance, and continuity of all things. We tread on forces. Withdraw them, and creation must collapse. (Science and Health p. 124:25–27)
CS is no longer relevant
Christian Science is the law of God, good
I cannot heal
Truth handles the most malignant contagion with perfect assurance. (Science and Health p. 176:31)
violence
There is only one power and attraction; nothing can penetrate God’s protection
The scientific statement of being gives the full reversal of any and all of mortal mind’s claims:
“ ... All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all. ... Spirit is God, and man is His image and likeness. Therefore man is not material; he is spiritual. (Science and Health p. 468)
We can also add another point here by adding “contagion to this statement: ” (Contagion) and Accidents are unknown to God, or immortal Mind, and we must leave the mortal basis of belief and unite with the one Mind, in order to change the notion of chance to the proper sense of God's unerring direction and thus bring out harmony.
(Science and Health, p. 424:5) And because of this: There is no reaction to something that never happened.
“Change the evidence, and that disappears which before seemed real to this false belief, and the human consciousness rises higher. … Faith ... is a chrysalis state of human thought, in which spiritual evidence, contradicting the testimony of material sense, begins to appear, and Truth, the ever-present, is becoming understood. (Science and Health, p. 297:12–15 Change, 20–24)
Being created spiritually, there is no halfway point that shares its power with an opposing truth. There is no opposing truth. And there is no evidence of something that never existed.
Let’s talk more about reversing –not rehearsing– error and establishing what is real’ How do we do that?
“The human thought must free itself from self-imposed materiality and bondage” (SH 191: 16-17). Christ Jesus showed us the way to free ourselves by revealing God, Truth, as the only power, and our oneness with God. His bold dismissal of death, disease, and sin, reduced them to their native dust, or nothingness. ….. Jesus deployed a direct assault on established belief systems that said man is material and vulnerable and went on to establish the kingdom of heaven on earth. In other words, he proved the supremacy and omnipotence of God, Soul, and the governance of the law of harmony as the only reality.
What is real?
As humanity’s cry for something real, safe, substantial, and satisfying is growing, we ask the question: What is real?
In an interview with Keanu Reeves on a popular talk show, he was describing the theme of conflict between actual reality and virtual reality in his popular movie series “The Matrix” to a young student. The young student asked - does it matter what is real or what is virtual?
It’s a profound question. What we feel is real provides the foundation for the meaning and purpose of life out of which come our moral backbone, our capacity to survive and thrive, our ability to innovate and grow spiritually, intellectually, and compassionately. From this foundation comes our capacity to relate to and unite with one another, and strengthen all types of relationships. It provides the fertile ground from which equality, justice, and progress either thrive or die. So…….kinda important.
In Christian Science we are taught the basics of spiritual reality: “All the real is eternal. Perfection underlies reality. Without perfection, nothing is wholly real. All things will continue to disappear, until perfection appears and reality is reached.” (Science and Health, p. 353:16–19)
But matter is expanding toward its own demise. The call for the Comforter is getting louder. Spiritual progress is the growing demand. “The time for thinkers has come. Truth, independent of doctrines and time-honored systems, knocks at the portal of humanity. Contentment with the past and the cold conventionality of materialism are crumbling away” (Science and Health, p. vii:13–17).
And the response to the demand happens when we lift and shift consciousness from the material to the spiritual. We are not able to answer life’s most earnest questions by rearranging mortal and limited responses. The answers come not from the level of the problems, but by going higher - a “rise in consciousness”.
The demand is loud. And the response is immediate, thorough and spiritual - divine Love meets every human need
“This age is reaching out towards the perfect Principle of things; is pushing towards perfection in art, invention, and manufacture. ... Proportionately as we part with material systems and theories, personal doctrines and dogmas, meekly to ascend the hill of Science, shall we reach the maximum of perfection in all things.”(Misc p. 232:6–8, 14) This reaching out is what is happening today.
- How are we seeing this happen?
- How can we support mankind’s spiritual development from sense to Soul?
There’s an “unsatisfied human craving for something better, higher, holier, than is afforded by a material belief in a physical God and man.” (Science and Health, p. 258)
“This age is reaching out towards the perfect Principle of things; is pushing towards perfection in art, invention, and manufacture. ....”(Misc p. 232:6–8, 14). There is progress happening at every corner of thought. Let’s be more active witnesses to this progress going on by witnessing the divine impulse behind all sustainable human progress.
“Every step of progress is a step more spiritual. The great element of reform is not born of human wisdom; it draws not its life from human organizations; rather is it the crumbling away of material elements from reason, the translation of law back to its original language, — Mind, and the final unity between man and God.”(Peo, p. 1:2–7)
As God reigns in heaven, so does God reign on earth. And we are made capable of knowing God’s supremacy and omnipotence. Jesus Christ taught that the kingdom of heaven is within. We can walk together, being comforted with the great fact that God is always with us. Goodness, health, abundance, grace are always with us.
Establishing the kingdom of heaven on earth is making harmony our priority. That is how we see an infinitely diverse population prosper and thrive. The Golden Rule is fully activated and understood and forms the basis on which individual freedoms can prosper and in which the seeker for health, comfort, and peace is free from judgment and free to find whatever it is that blesses one and blesses all.
The higher we grow in our understanding of God’s omnipotence, the more we feel God’s guidance and protection. We see healing progress in our dealings with one another. The higher we go, the more health, harmony, and peace are revealed.
One’s tireless efforts for peace reflect the protection of Principle, the tender care of Love, and the unending quality of Life. These efforts join in with others toward a movement of thought that heals.
Our friend Nehemiah teaches persistence
Think of the building of the wall in Nehemiah. It is rich in its symbolic meaning and yet has lessons of persistence in the vision for our work.
SLIDE #7
“So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work. ...“They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. … (Nehemiah 4:6, 17, 18 (to 1st .))
So what is the lesson here?
No unselfish prayer is a solo effort. We join with others in a collective demonstration, building up a movement of thought that grows as the weights of ignorance, hatred, and prejudice are dropped. The moral baseline of honesty, compassion, temperance, humanity, and hope forwards the momentum.
Thus progress is going on. Thought is shifting from a limited material basis to a more metaphysical and spiritual basis, as evidenced in the colorful and holy diversity of what we all represent - a multifarious reflection of God, Mind, the divine Us.
A fact - a goal - a promise
“One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfils the Scripture, “Love thy neighbor as thyself;” annihilates pagan and Christian idolatry, — whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political, and religious codes; equalizes the sexes; annuls the curse on man, and leaves nothing that can sin, suffer, be punished or destroyed” (Science and Health, p. 340:23).
Keep the high goal always in thought. “When the destination is desirable, expectation speeds our progress.” (Science and Health, p. 426)
We are reversing – not rehearsing - the false law that says disease, discord, division, death are inevitable. And we are replacing it with the law that says ALL things are possible to God.
Omnipotence of Life - we are embracing the resilience and holiness of Life that overpower the pull toward a monopoly of material methods of healing. Life is eternal. “ …. A more spiritual and true ideal of Diety improves the race physically and spiritually.” (Peo. 6: 18). As God is All-in-all, the only Life, Spirit and Mind - so is divine Life the only monopoly, the only attraction. This does not narrow our lives, but stretches us to reach beyond the human and familiar to see the infinitude and eternality of Life.
Omnipotence of Love is expressed as the Golden rule neutralizing division. Love unites and brings together a diverse humanity in which the Golden Rule is practiced and all are included at whatever stage they are; there is no judgement, no coercion, and no polarization. Love’s authority is enforced by the law of harmony and the law of progress that ensure one’s freedoms and love for others are aligned. One’s freedom doesn’t take away from another’s but all are governed perfectly and entirely by divine Mind.
“The great miracle, to human sense, is divine Love, and the grand necessity of existence is to gain the true idea of what constitutes the kingdom of heaven in man” (Science and Health, p. 560:11–15). Love is the motive power behind why Jesus did what he did (see John 3: 16) and why Mrs Eddy did what she did.
Omnipotence of Truth - Knowing the truth that makes free counters the fear of our freedoms being taken away. Truth is always the victor because it is omnipotent – there is no other power. “You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free” says Jesus ( John 8: 32). Living the truth of God and man - that is living out the harmony, humility, and love for God and man - is the fastest and most thorough way to secure our freedom from pandemics and polarization, and from any discord and disease.
Conclusion
As to dealing with a pandemic of not only of disease, but of “dis-ease” – of hatred, self-centeredness, and polarization – we have God’s promise: I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him” (Ezekiel 21:27).
Truth has no opponents, Love does not struggle, Life has no ending, no diminuendo or deterioration. God knows Her creation - perfect, harmonious, pure. God’s power is insistent, persistent, and consistent.
We have this instruction as human consciousness rises higher and higher to Truth, Life, and Love: “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little” Isaiah 28:10). Keep overturning the claim that man is material. Keep ris(ing) in consciousness to the true sense of the omnipotence of Life, Truth and Love” (My 116: 2). Keep learning of humanity’s God-given freedom and keep growing – line upon line, precept upon precept - ad infinitum.