{"id":3230,"date":"2016-03-03T10:11:59","date_gmt":"2016-03-03T15:11:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/everydayspirituality\/?p=3230"},"modified":"2016-02-24T10:41:37","modified_gmt":"2016-02-24T15:41:37","slug":"excerpts-from-new-book-from-science-religion-to-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/everydayspirituality\/2016\/03\/excerpts-from-new-book-from-science-religion-to-god.html","title":{"rendered":"Excerpts from new book: “from science & religion to God”"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n
\u00a0Preface<\/strong><\/div>\n
\n
\n

I discover something new each day. Without science and religion, my discoveries <\/span>could<\/span> be <\/span>very <\/span>mysterious. But<\/span>,<\/span> I\u2019ve also discovered something else very important. <\/span><\/p>\n

Mysteries<\/span> remain<\/span>,<\/span> if I get stuck in <\/span>the <\/span>thinking that science and religion are the sources of <\/span>truth<\/span>. Science and religion are not sources, they are methods, approaches, or practices. <\/span><\/p>\n

F<\/span>i<\/span>nal truths are not found<\/span> in science or religion.<\/span> <\/span>We find truth only in <\/span>what I call, God,<\/span> Truth<\/span> with a capital T,<\/span> the source and <\/span>power behind <\/span>discovery.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

We may know our field of science or we may know our religion, but the minute we think we know truth, we stopped knowing truth, because Truth constantly reveals itself due to its infinite nature. <\/span>From science & religion to God <\/span>is a strong appeal to <\/span>keep <\/span>all<\/span> methods of research useful by <\/span>keeping them secondary to truth<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Focusing on<\/span> <\/span>God<\/span>,<\/span> we can<\/span> capture fresh views of science and religion.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

There is nothing new to this system of surrendering to Truth and further expanding our minds and possibilities. It brings healing to ourselves, our neighbors, and our earth because it involves love.<\/span><\/p>\n

Truth and Love are one. Basically<\/span> <\/span>i<\/span>ndefinable, but we know <\/span>them when<\/span> <\/span>t<\/span>rue love removes fear.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Truth causes us to be honest and care for ourselves and the environment. <\/span>Love causes us<\/span> <\/span>to better ourselves,<\/span> <\/span>to fight for<\/span> and share in<\/span> a <\/span>practical, meaningful <\/span>life. We eventually realize that the consciousness of love is the only <\/span>asset<\/span> <\/span>worth taking<\/span> with us whether we move, change our <\/span>image<\/span>, or die.<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
\n

Neither science nor religion have a <\/span>complete<\/span> understanding of everything. Arguing for one or the other doesn\u2019t bring understanding. So, <\/span>with,<\/span> <\/span>from science & religion to God, <\/span>we can contemplate <\/span>a useful interpretation of God<\/span> as a force that<\/span> allows us to stop struggling<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

We don\u2019t need<\/span> to <\/span>\u201c<\/span>change<\/span>\u201d<\/span> bad into good, or lack into abundance, or sickness into health. Said in another way, we don\u2019t <\/span>need<\/span> to change darkness into light, but can discover <\/span>how we are one with<\/span> the light that<\/span> naturally<\/span> displace<\/span>s<\/span> the darkness.<\/span><\/p>\n

The ideas in this book are thought based, rather<\/span> than <\/span>time- or <\/span>thing-based. <\/span>They discuss the practice of divine metaphysical healing.<\/span><\/p>\n

F<\/span>rom science & religion to God <\/span>is a narrative based on a book written in the 19<\/span>th<\/span> century by Mary Baker Eddy, a person who<\/span> also<\/span> discovered <\/span>the force of God <\/span>and genuinely practiced this system of metaphysical healing<\/span> successfully<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the 19<\/span>th<\/span> century Mrs. Eddy defined this system as Christian Science. The word Science, capitalized, was applied to Christianity to exalt its meaning from creed and theory to deed and practice. <\/span><\/p>\n

Subjects in <\/span>this book<\/span> <\/span>encompass everyday life, touching on\u00a0<\/span>traditions, relationships, alternative healing, mind-power, the body, science, and religion. Near the end of the book is the chapter, Study Guide,<\/span> <\/span>with a Q&A section<\/span>. The last chapter, <\/span>Glossary, <\/span>explains words and terms <\/span>used.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

You can start reading wherever it feels fitting. The message boils down to one sentence, written by Eddy long ago, \u201cAll is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>ideas<\/span> in <\/span>from science & religion to God <\/span>explore a tremendous spiritual study, open to everyone, no matter what your background.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cheryl<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Traditions: Prayer, Communion, Marriage<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n
\n
\n

Why then ’tis none to you; for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Traditions can be healthy. They can be used to advance spiritual good. We have an example of this in the Bible, when Jesus dealt with the tradition of baptism. <\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus came to John the Baptist, at the River Jordan, to be baptized. John resisted. He felt Jesus should baptize him instead. Jesus said, \u201c<\/span>Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.\u201d<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

At this point, baptism became more meaningful. It became a mindful experience. John or Jesus weren\u2019t the primary figures, God was. John and Jesus embraced humility and acknowledged a love and reverence for a Higher Power. <\/span><\/p>\n

The event in turn was marked with peace and a powerful message from Spirit. \u201c<\/span>And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and behold, a voice from <\/span>heaven said, \u2018This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Rituals are unavoidable. We eat, we go to jobs, we participate in ceremonies, and we bend to hierarchies. As long as traditions don\u2019t become ego trips or mechanical nonsense, a higher ideal can infuse these practices with holy purposes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prayer<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Prayer is the faith that all things positive and good are possible to God. Fed by selfless love, faith grows into spiritual understanding and reveals remarkable experiences.<\/div>\n
\n
\n

God\u2019s work is done. We reflect the doing. The doing is not busy work reacting to our own personal desires or the world\u2019s demands, but a logical, spiritual, helpful, brave response to God\u2019s work\u2014a prayer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thoughts are prayers. Desires are prayers. Sometimes these thoughts and desires are sketchy, but God can be trusted to clarify our prayers. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

To be continued…<\/p>\n

\"Briefer<\/a>
Briefer narrative of Mary Baker Eddy’s “Science & Health”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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