Thinking required @ In Theory:

California's La Canada Valley Sun has an interesting feature in their Religion Section called "In Theory:" There faith tradition leaders/spokespersons are requested to present perspectives on a variety of issues. Recently this question was posed:

In Theory: Should kids break records?

There were 6 responses representing a range of faith-based thought. The first response was from Christian Scientist,  Graham Bothwell, who concluded his response with a quote and a comment:

"Jesus loved little children because of their freedom from wrong and their receptiveness of right. While age is halting between two opinions … youth makes easy and rapid strides. "  ~Mary Baker Eddy

Perhaps the question isn't so much whether restrictions should be placed on the attempted feats of young persons ...as what we all can learn from seeing the childlike attributes that we all have, in dismissing unrealistic fears and unlocking our own true potential.

George seems to encourage a sense of agelessness at any age.  

           Hmmm... so grab that sense and run with it?

                          Why? one might ask.

                                          Well, how about just because we can!

And in order to continue the discussion, this post asks you, the reader: 

How would you respond? 

Please leave your response as a comment to this post. 

And yes, comments are necessarily but kindly moderated.

BUZZ: Mark Twain and Mary Baker Eddy

Mary Baker Eddy

Val Kilmer as Mark Twain

There is quite a buzz building around a new film described as "a classic love story in the spirit of DRIVING MISS DAISY." The focus of the film is the relationship between Mary Baker Eddy and her contemporary,  humorist and satirist, Mark Twain.

Eddy has, at times, been recognized as a woman of extraordinary contribution particularly when political correctness is not a priority.  However, misconceptions and ignorance have muddied various accounts of her. As a result, Eddy has not been seen in her own light and much social conversation concerning her has been inaccurate.

It was yellow journalism that gave impetus to the founding of the Christian Science Monitor with its objective "to injure no man, but to bless all mankind." Similar incorrect beliefs have continued to be voiced through time. Even to this day, out of context statements by Mark Twain about Eddy still promote a confused and false view of her. 

Believing doesn't make something true. Truth must reside in what is believed independent of the believer. Bringing what is true into the light doesn't just bless the subject. It blesses all by strengthening the social fabric of trust for all mankind. It establishes a valid basis for trust that informs all useful, harmless and productive human interaction. 

So the buzz about a film about woman loved by Christian Scientists cannot be limited to them. The buzz must increase to include all who want to understand un-selfed lovingkindness in the face of misunderstanding and lies. 

Presenting a correct record of one well-known relationship that has been labeled antagonistic will definitely shine a brighter light for all to use. Thanks, Val.

This post takes note of 
the official book launch held in Berkeley for
Autobiography of Mark Twain

published by University of California Press.
Val Kilmer, otherwise occupied, attended 
as Mark Twain via voice recordings and looping video.

AND

Val Kilmer, the writing, directing, producing, starring and
scientifically directed moving force in and behind the film
Mark Twain and Mary Baker Eddy. 

You may also enjoy the spirituality.com archived live chat: 

Val Kilmer’s “Mark Twain and Mary Baker Eddy” – A film in the making
.

from the heart of an interview to universal Law

It is always fun to find those who watched what you watched. In this case my co-watcher was on the East coast. We both saw the interview of John C. Mack by Charlie Rose but he blogged about it and related it to a beautiful Christian Science healing. So my blog rightly takes note of his blog: Mexico. Christian Science. Are we buying into wrong ideas about them? Do read his blog and my comment posted there.

Now for a different tack. With Tijuana to the immediate South there is a LA-SD-TJ-Metro or TJ-SD-LA-Metro view here. This view is not just by land but also by sea. It brings issues of national borders and sovereignty into common conversation and puts jurisdiction front and center.

Juris- (authority) diction (speak) in turn introduces the concept of territorial principle that is limited to within governmental borders unless it introduces universal jurisdiction - the idea that certain international norms are erga omnes, or owed to the entire world community. And so goes the layered world of national and international law.

But what is it that underlies the worldly juris we diction? Is it not the Law of God, the juris-diction that absolutely governs the universe, all creation. So why not cut to the chase?

The time for radical reliance is now.

     By Principle is man whole;

          by Love is wholeness manifest;

                by Truth is manifestation perfect;

                      by Spirit is perfection known;

                by Mind is knowledge sensed;

           by Soul is sense freed;

     by Life is freedom lived.

Thankfully, the Law of God is eternally governing the TJ-SD-LA-SD-TJ-Metro requiring infinite peace and good for ALL.

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

~Matthew 5:48

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Enable us to know, — as in heaven, so on earth, — God is omnipotent, supreme.

~Science and Health 17:1-3

"What makes you think this is the case?"

The San Diego North County Times published an interview with physicist, John Polkinghorne who is known for explaining  the existence of the quark. The interview by Dean Nelson is of interest to this blog because Polkinghorne is comfortable with both theology and science. Here is an excerpt from the concluding question in that interview.

Q: ...can scientific thinking actually help one's religious thinking?

A: It helps in this sense ... if a scientist is considering a deep question, whether inside science or outside of science, instead of asking "Is this reasonable," as if you knew beforehand what path the rationality would have to take, they ask a different question that is more open and more demanding ... As in my scientific beliefs, my Christian beliefs can be defended when I answer the question, "What makes you think this is the case?"

Posted in Faith-and-values on Friday, November 12, 2010 12:00 am

Earlier in the interview   Polkinghorne  noted that  Physicists use language that includes "Mind of God" when they write for the general public about science. That note reminded me that Christian Science recognizes 7 synonyms for God. One of the 7 is Mind. Because it is a synonym or proper name, Mind is capitalized. 

When referring to mind governed by material law, mind is not capitalized and does not relate to what omniscient God knows. Instead it relates to the physical, limited or material. That mind is corporeal-sense dependent and is explained by ever-changing or seemingly progressive theories. It lacks the qualities of  the infinite, eternal and constant.

The difference between Mind and mind is the difference between Science and science. Reaching the limits of the material propels earnest scientific thought into the fetterless and spiritual. That is where man in the image and likeness of his Creator can find satisfaction. 

Father, where Thine own children are, I love to be. -Mary Baker Eddy

Discoverer vs. Founder

At a CS workshop several years ago, the meaning of founder vs. discoverer was discussed in depth. Since that time I have made a distinction between the words. Do you note any distinction between them?

The fact that Christian Science is the universal, divine law of Life, Truth and Love makes it discoverable but not founded or authored humanly. Recognition of this led Mary Baker Eddy to denominate the Church of Christ, Scientist by taking the divinely directed human footsteps to found and establish it.

The distinction may seem unimportant but it follows our Master's command to " "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons: freely ye received, freely give." -Matthew 10:8 (ASB) It allows Christian Science to be accepted and practiced by anyone of any denomination. It proves with every scientifically wrought healing that Christian Science is is truly universal in its effect. And it frees all to seek the company of fellow students who congregate to worship the one God, good, together.

If today's interest in healing prayer has been encouraged and promoted, according to Christ Jesus's command: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" -Mark 16:15 (KJV), by Christian Science, then it was not founded by Mrs. Eddy but discovered by her then safeguarded to be freely and publicly demonstrated by the Church of Christ, Scientist she founded.

This clarity has allowed me to share, without the thought of converting another, the "good news" and let the gospel with its proof as elucidated in the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, bring another to the decision of membership in The Mother Church in Boston or local Branch or to remain a demonstrating Christian Science student within their present faith tradition.