The word “science” in Christian science was so revolutionary in its day it inspired many imitators Scott of Skeptic Meditations brings up one of my favorite cases of such flattery, Paramahansa Yogananda. Many are they who use the term “science” casually as a marketing tool to sell all sorts of New Age spirituality. In contrast below Lawrence Doyle presents that quantum physics is playing catch up to Christian Science. He calls quantum physicists the “reluctant metaphysicians”.
My favorite example of a casual use of the term science is Yogananda’s guidebook book “Scientific Healing Affirmations”. There are hundreds of other metaphysics science titles particularly post 1875. What I liked best in Yogananda’s book was the concept of instantaneous healing, an idea put forth by Eddy decades earlier.
Science is a common word. When Mary Baker Eddy declared it’s “time for thinkers”, well, is there any other answer for the spiritual seeker? Personally, I’ve had many direct divine experiences that are outside of all reason. Yet such experiences leave me to ever ponder the nature of reality through all my life. There must be a reason, some purpose to life and a truth. I never expected to be a scientist. I’m no intellectual. Common sense plus the burden of a New England Conscience.
Science claims can be based on any study or two of even twisted and manipulated statistics. For Yogananda, I don’t think anyone bothered. I’ll ask Scott. Correct me if I’m wrong! But Eddy’s method was science, did demand proofs, and proofs came in the form of extraordinary recorded healings. So much so that the science was used in the great wars, WWI, WWII and more. In her day, the Mayo brothers of the Mayo Clinic sent cases to Eddy’s practitioners.
My interest as an RN and healer is to look at the cause of the trend of using the word “science” to sell metaphysics and junk medicine. If you check the dates you’ll find a surge in the trend started after 1875. The was in response to compete with the overwhelming popularity wave of a new healing science called Christian Science.
Christian Science, from its inception in 1875 to about 1925 was the fastest growing religion in America. And it was as a healing profession grounded in science. This threatened other sects of doctors and such business interests as patent drugs. Christian Science was such a revolutionary concept, declaring that ultimate reality IS ALL GOOD, free of discord and disease, that the movement attracted hundreds of thousands of men and women from all quarters of society including other Christian denominations, businessmen, women, doctors, and even Jews were particularly attracted to this method which applied intellectual methods of reason to debate and extend this spiritual understanding that clearly defines reality according the the scriptures.
Dr. Laurance Doyle is a quantum physics scientist at SETI. SETI was featured in the movie “Contact” (one of my favorite movies). SETI is the official government institute searching for extraterrestrial life. Mr. Doyle discusses physics that support the core concepts set forth by Mrs. Eddy in Christian Science decades ahead of her time. See here that Mrs. Eddy is planted firmly on his list of founding scientists in physics.
This science of God comes at a time where so many people fear for our planet and survival. If science is truth, and if all truly is mental, what more need we do then attune our perspective, abide in harmony and love. Here’s a great Doyle talk about Divine Science.
Hi!
I was watching a talk by you on you tube and somebody asked about the balloon explanation of energy and time and further asked “Why is there a connection between energy and time”? It’s not a complete answer but put it like this – the amount of energy in a tree trunk is dependent on the amount of time it took to grow – a willow is of little use in a cold winter and oak or hard woods boil you out of your house in the spring and autumn! (Sorry – fall)!!! Oil, which has even more energy in it than wood has absorbed even more energy in the cause of time and so you could say that without time there is no energy. I cannot say if that is reversible. It’s not so much of a connection but the effect of time because the longer you stand in the sun the more energy you’ll absorb. But I’m not the scientist – you are! I just thought it could help point in the right direction.
And if I’m writing to you anyway… I can’t agree with the idea that matter only exists when observed. I love classic cars and every now and then someone discovers a car that has been put away for 30 years or more. If the theory of observation was true it wouldn’t have rusted from the water vapour in the air! I think that disproves it! Sorry!!!
Thanks for a great lecture. I do hope you receive this e-mail because I can’t find your own e-mail address.
Greetings
Dave Lawton.
Thanks for the words Dave. We enjoyed your point about a classic car. This blog has been put away for a year and yet here it is. We come love early scribbles like classic car enthusiasts love and sometimes need just an old part. Finding a platform for the classic that’s sturdy solid and beautiful is the art and science of Eddy’s Christianity. Eddy’s Christianity is like a working car, not a collection of happenings and parts, but a vehicle, that is the highest platform yet revealed as a single workable science, one that certainly drives energetically. Ah, what is the ultimate driving machine?