Editing Religious Science (section)

==History==
Ernest Holmes did not originally intend for RS/SOM to be a "church", but rather a teaching institution. In that spirit, many member "churches" have traditionally referred to themselves as "centers". The mental healing work of [[Phineas Quimby]] was a source of inspiration to much of the New Thought movement, including RS/SOM. Ernest Holmes was especially strongly influenced by [[Emma Curtis Hopkins]], a former student of [[Christian Science]], especially her "Scientific Christian Mental Practice", a direct precursor to Holmes' "[[Spiritual Mind Treatment]]", and by the writings of Judge [[Thomas Troward]] and [[Ralph Waldo Emerson]], as he developed his own synthesis, which became known as Religious Science or Science of Mind.{{sfn|Braden|1963|pages=295,289–291}}{{sfn|Anderson|Whitehouse|2003|pages=26–28}}

In 1926 Holmes published ''The Science of Mind'',{{sfn|Holmes|1926}} which references the teachings of [[Jesus Christ]],{{sfn|Holmes|1926|pages=87,98,496}} the Bible{{sfn|Holmes|1926|pages=483-504}} and [[Buddha]].{{sfn|Holmes|1926|pages=76,78,329,342,344,428}} Holmes established in 1927 the Institute for Religious Science and School of Philosophy, in Los Angeles. This organization would later become the [[Church of Religious Science]]. Holmes had previously studied another New Thought teaching, [[Divine Science]], and he was an ordained Divine Science Minister.{{sfn|Mosley|2006|page=47}} He saw humans as being "open at the top"—that is, open to the evolutionary improvement of consciousness in all areas of life.{{sfn|Vahle|1993|page=146}} The concepts of "Open at the Top" and "New Thought" have inspired RS/SOM organizations and their teachings to evolve over the years. As stated in the book ''New Thought:  A Practical American Spirituality'', "New Thought still is evolving; it may yet be the point at which religion, philosophy, and science come together as the most effective combination to move the world to greater peace, plenty, health, and harmony.  Many believe it might be the quintessential spirituality for the next millennium."{{sfn|Anderson|Whitehouse|2003|page=Introduction}}

The ideas put forth by Holmes attracted famous celebrities of his time including [[Cecil B. DeMille]], [[Peggy Lee]], and [[Cary Grant]].{{sfn|Vahle|1993|pages=2–3}}  For erstwhile radio luminary [[Les Mitchel]],<ref>Armstrong, Alice Catt (1950). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=ZtFusY5LTuoC&q=october+27+1904+%22les+mitchel%22&dq=october+27+1904+%22les+mitchel%22 Who's Who in Los Angeles County]''. Los Angeles, CA: Who's Who Historical Society. p.&nbsp;145. {{ISSN|0508-6930}}.</ref> this attraction proved sufficient to warrant a complete career overhaul, circa 1961, as the longtime ''[[Skippy Hollywood Theatre]]'' mastermind founded and/or helped to found Religious Science churches in [[Oklahoma City]], [[Albuquerque]] and [[Cleveland]] before settling in [[Sacramento]], where he served as that church's minister from 1971 until his death in 1975.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Obituaries: Les Mitchel|author=|date=January 22, 1975|work=Variety|page=94|quote=Les Mitchel, former actor and motion picture-radio director, died Jan. 12 in Sacramento, where he had made his home since 1971. In recent years, he had been active in church work, starting in 1961 and headquartering variously in Oklahoma City, Cleveland and Alburquerque.|id={{ProQuest|1401273197}}}}</ref><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/image/620625024/?clipping_id=142132888 "Obituaries: Dr. Lester Mitchel"]. ''The Sacramento Bee''. January 14, 1975. p.&nbsp;B2. Retrieved February 27, 2024.</ref>