Editing Religious Science

{{Short description|Religious movement established in 1926}}
{{For|the science of religion|Religious studies}}
{{redirect|Science of Mind|the magazine published by the Centers for Spiritual Living|Science of Mind (magazine)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox Christian denomination
|name = Science of Mind
|image = USVA headstone emb-25.svg
|alt = Religious Science teaching symbol
|caption = Religious Science teaching symbol
|scripture = ''Bible''<br>''[[The Science of Mind]]''
|type = Christian-inspired New Religious Movement 
|main_classification = Religious Science
|orientation = [[New Thought]] 
|founder = [[Ernest Holmes]]
|founded_date = 1927
|founded_place = Los Angeles, California
|separated_from = 
|branched_from = 
|merger = 
|separations =
|associations = [[Religious Science International]], [[United Centers for Spiritual Living]], [[Affiliated New Thought Network]], [[International New Thought Alliance]]
|congregations = 400
|members = 
|website = [https://csl.org/ Centers for Spiritual Living]
}}

The '''Religious Science''' movement, or '''Science of Mind''', was established in 1926 by [[Ernest Holmes]] and is a [[Spirituality|spiritual]], philosophical and [[metaphysics|metaphysical]] spiritual movement within the [[New Thought]] movement.  In general, the term "Science of Mind" applies to the teachings, while the term "Religious Science" applies to the organizations. Adherents often use the terms interchangeably. 

The movement was established with the 1926 publication of ''[[The Science of Mind]]'', in which Holmes stated "Religious Science is a correlation of laws of science, opinions of philosophy, and revelations of religion applied to human needs and the aspirations of man."  He also stated that Religious Science/Science of Mind (RS/SOM) is not based on any "authority" of established beliefs, but rather on "what it can accomplish" for the people who practice it.{{sfn|Vahle|1993|page=7}} 

The [[Religious Science International|International Centers for Spiritual Living]], the [[United Centers for Spiritual Living]] (which combined into the Centers for Spiritual Living in 2011) and [[Global Religious Science Ministries]] are currently the main denominations promoting Religious Science.

==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>

== Teaching and practice ==
{{New Thought beliefs}}
The RS/SOM teaching generally incorporates [[idealistic]] and [[panentheistic]] philosophies. RS/SOM teaches that all beings are expressions of and part of Infinite Intelligence, also known as Spirit, [[Higher Consciousness|Christ Consciousness]], or God.  It teaches that, because God is all there is in the universe (not just present in Heaven, or in assigned deities), its power can be used by all humans to the extent that they recognize and align themselves with Its presence.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Learn About the What We Believe |url=https://csl.org/spiritual-community/what-we-believe/ |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=Centers for Spiritual Living |language=en-US}}</ref> Ernest Holmes said, "God is not ... a person, but a [[Universal mind|Universal Presence]] ... already in our own soul, already operating through our own consciousness."{{sfn|Vahle|1993|page=7}}

The introduction to ''The Science of Mind'' text describes "The Thing Itself" (God or Infinite Intelligence), "The Way It Works", "What It Does" and "How to Use It".{{sfn|Holmes|1926|pages=25&ndash;60}} Although Holmes was criticized for not focusing much on love, he did say that "Love rules through Law." (i.e., the Law of Mind or Cause and Effect) and "Love points the way and Law makes the way possible."{{sfn|Vahle|1993|pages=12–13}}{{sfn|Holmes|1926|page=43}} The "Law of Cause and Effect" simply states that every action has a consequence—creative, destructive, or neutral.  It can be described as Jesus Christ stated, "You reap what you sow" and "The bread you cast upon the water, comes back to you".  [[Law of attraction (New Thought)|The Law of Attraction]] is one aspect of that Law.  It differs from the Hindu definition of [[karma]] in that it is not related to reincarnation and that it happens in this life. Personal responsibility is a major tenet of RS/SOM.

RS/SOM teaches that people can achieve more fulfilling lives through the practice called Spiritual Mind Treatment (Treatment), or [[Affirmative Prayer]]. [[affirmative prayer|Spiritual Mind Treatment]] is a step-by-step process, in which one states the desired outcome as if it has already happened. It declares human partnership with Infinite Intelligence to achieve success. Treatment is to be stated as personal (first person), positive, powerful (with feeling), and present (is happening right now). The goal is to gain clarity in thinking that guides action to be consistent with the desired outcome. The Treatment is believed to set off a new chain of causation in the mind that leads one to act according to the good for which one is treating.{{sfn|Holmes|1926|pages=181&ndash;323}} Spiritual Mind Treatment, as currently taught in RS/SOM centers, contains five steps: Recognition, Unification, Declaration, Thanksgiving, and Release.{{sfn|Vahle|1993|page=150}} Some adherents of RS/SOM also use supplemental [[meditation]] techniques.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spiritual Tools |url=https://csl.org/spiritual-tools/ |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=Centers for Spiritual Living |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Organizations ==
[[Image:Founder's Church of Religious Science.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Founder's Church, Los Angeles]]
There are four major organizations for Religious Science: [[Centers for Spiritual Living]], the [[Agape International Spiritual Center]](s), the [[Affiliated New Thought Network]], and the [[Global Religious Science Ministries]]. Centers for Spiritual Living is the largest organization teaching Religious Science (Science of Mind) and has over 400 communities around the world. The organization publishes the works of Ernest Holmes as well as the monthly magazine, ''Science of Mind''.

==See also==
* [[New religious movement]]
* [[List of pantheist groups]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
* {{Cite book |last1=Anderson |first1=C. Alan |title=New Thought: A Practical American Spirituality |last2=Whitehouse |first2=Deborah |year=2003 |publisher=AuthorHouse |isbn=978-1-4107-0172-5 |edition=Revised}}
* {{Cite book |last=Braden |first=Charles Samuel |title=Spirits in Rebellion: The Rise and Development of New Thought |year=1963 |publisher=Southern Methodist University Press |isbn=978-0-87074-025-1}}
* {{Cite book |last=Holmes |first=Ernest |title=The Science of Mind |year=1926 |publisher=G.P. Putnam's Sons |isbn=978-0-87477-865-6 |author-link=Ernest Holmes}}
* {{Cite book |last=Mosley |first=Glenn |title=New Thought, Ancient Wisdom: The History and Future of the New Thought Movement |date=2006 |publisher=Templeton Foundation Press |isbn=978-1-59947-182-2 |oclc=767670859}}
* {{Cite book |last=Vahle |first=Neal |title=Open at the Top: The Life of Ernest Holmes |publisher=Open View Press |year=1993}}

{{Religious Science footer}}

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[[Category:Religious Science| ]]
[[Category:New Thought denominations]]
[[Category:Panentheism]]
[[Category:Religious organizations established in 1927]]
[[Category:Spiritual organizations]]
[[Category:New religious movements established in the 1920s]]
[[Category:Religious belief systems founded in the United States]]