More Pagan than Christian
Ernest Holmes made frequent references to Jesus Christ in his writings, but that does not mean that Science of Mind is part of the Christian faith tradition. Ernest Holmes talked about Jesus Christ, because Jesus is an exemplar of someone who had come into full consciousness of God within themselves. The Science of Mind philosophy, and New Thought more generally, do not adhere to common doctrines of Christianity, for example; belief God is a Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost; the Bible is written by God; people are sinful and require redemption; or a person must accept Jesus Christ as Savior to enter into heaven after death. Although Science of Mind practitioners respect all faiths, and may draw upon other teachings to illustrate concepts within its own philosophy, the roots of this New Thought teaching are pagan, not Chrisitian. Modern Science of Mind as practiced at the Centers for Spiritual Living has lost its connection with its Pagan roots.
The term pagan was derived from the Late Latin “paganus” which was used in the Roman Empire originally to refer to people who were “country dwellers”, the people who lived outside the walls of a city. As Ancient Romans began to adopt Christianity, in the first few centuries after the death of Jesus, the term began to take on a more pejorative meaning. While the Roman city dwellers were adopting the new faith, the people in the rural areas continued with their traditional religious practices as they always had. Over time the the term “pagan” began to refer to someone who had not converted to Christianity, or who practiced another faith tradition like Judiasm or Islam. Pagans were the outsiders, the people who defied authority and they were considered subversive.
Paganism is a large category referring to a wide variety of religious and spiritual practices that span the likes of Shamanism, Celtic traditions, Druidism, Santeria, Asartru, Ceremonial Magick, and Mystery Schools, to name a few. An expert and practitioner of Druidism, Issac Bonewits used the word “paleopaganism” to describe the original tribal faiths from around the world. Some have survived to this day including; Hinduism, Taoism and Shintoism. In the book, “Paganism: An introduction to Earth-centered Religions” written by two modern pagans (neo-Pagans), Joyce and River Higginbotham state, “if [they] could reduce Paganism down to its essentials, [they] believe its two most central concepts are interconnectedness and blessedness.” They go on to say, “Most Pagans believe that all parts of the universe, whether “animate” or “inanimate,” are connected at very deep levels that extend beyond the boundaries of space-time as we know them”. It is believed by many Pagans, this deep interconnection allows them to interact as co-creators with the universe and the Divine.
Recognizing one’s ability to act as a co-creator with the Universal Consciousness is a fundamental principle of the Science of Mind. Ernest Holmes wrote:
“While the Soul may not choose, having no self-consciousness of Its own, yet It has an Intelligence which is infinite, compared to the intelligence which we exhibit. For instance, the combined intelligence of the race could not create the life of a plant, yet the Intelligence in the creative soil of the earth will produce as many for us as we ask, when we plant the seed of that which we wish to have created.”
(Science of Mind, p.91.4-92.1)
This passage is one of many that speak to Spirit (Source, God, Life) expressing Itself as individuated life forms. That humans have the unique capacity, distinguished from other life on Earth, to give consciousness to Spirit, and interact as co-creator with Spirit. It also acknowledges intelligence is not exclusive to humans, but there are other entities like the Earth that have intelligence beyond the ability of Homo sapiens. And it is imperative we understand our interconnection with all life to sustain ourselves.
Contemporary practice of Science of Mind through the Centers of Spiritual Living has been focused on developing the individual. Guiding people through the teachings to learn how to change their thinking patterns so they can create a new experience of their lives. Often the Science of Mind principles are used to create better health, financial wealth and improve relationships with other people. All very important pursuits for anyone to survive and thrive in the industrialized world today.
Yet, if people stay at the level of co-creating material abundance as defined by the dominant social/economic system they remain at the human level of creative intelligence and do not open to the greater Intelligence of the Universe. The current socio/economic order with its extractive use of resources necessary to continue production of goods to meet manufactured consumer demands is destroying our home, Earth. To move into the future, Centers for Spiritual Living must reach past the Cartisan dualism that separated science and spirituality, that gave us many of the blessings and challenges of our time, to our Pagan ancestors and roots. Bringing back to practice the knowledge there is no separation between us and the Earth, and all the creation present here. This renewed understanding of Nature's order will thrust us out of our hyper-individualism into community. Allowing us to create with the Intelligence that is beyond our human imagination restoring the harmony of the many expressing the One.
References
Higginbotham, J., & Higginbotham, R. (2013). Paganism: An introduction to earth-centered religions. Llewellyn Publications.
Holmes, E. (1998). Chapter 4, Subjective Intelligence. In The Science of Mind: A philosophy, a faith, a way of life, the definitive edition (pp. 91.4–92.1). Tarcher/Putman Penguin Putman.
