Science and Science of Mind

In Religious Science, we study and apply the principles of Science of Mind developed by Ernest Holmes and his book, The Science of Mind. We learn how to do Spiritual Mind Treatment, and how to use our thoughts, words, actions and feelings as powerful tools to manifest what we desire to experience in life. It’s a metaphysical teaching, and the strength of our belief  propels us forward, knowing that as expressions of God in action, with the cosmic power of Creative Mind flowing to us, through us and for us, we are supported in our dreams and goals.

So could there be a scientific explanation for this? Dawson Church, in his book Mind to Matter, explores scientific research and discoveries that support the concept that the energy fields of our brains are literally creating reality. He examines studies in the fields of biology, physics, psychology, epigenetics, electromagnetism, wave phenomena and quantum mechanics that demonstrate how thoughts can be creative.

The idea that our individual local minds are part of the universal nonlocal mind is examined from the scientific viewpoint, supporting what we already know: we are individualized expressions of the One Source, the One Power, and we can use that power to transform our lives.

We may be able to heal ourselves because the body is constantly regenerating, replacing cells and rejuvenating itself at a frantic pace. Every second, 810,000 cells are being replaced...in blood vessels, digestive tract, heart, brain, eyes and more. And they regenerate in an energy field. The type of energy field bathing our body and in which cells regenerate determines biological outcome.

So what kind of energy fields drive the best outcome? Church  concludes, and various studies support, that when we create mental, emotional and spiritual fields of love and kindness, we provide a healthy energetic ecosystem in which our bodies regenerate.

So we need to lower our stress levels, shift our consciousness to cut our cortisol levels, and direct our mental state in a positive direction to effect healing. For example, the“bliss molecule” anandammide,  generated by meditation, has been shown to inhibit the formation of cancer cells. If we can shift and maintain positive mental states for a few weeks, then trillions of cells can be shaped by them.

In the laboratory, some of the electromagnetic frequencies that stimulate healthy cell growth are the same fields which can be generated by our consciousness on our brains.  Church looks especially at brain waves theta, alpha, gamma and delta. He teaches workshops on EcoMeditation, to train our brains in a particular ratio of brain waves to achieve a peak state.

EcoMeditation is based on best practices from a variety of disciplines, such as Heartmath, EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique tapping), and Neurofeedback. (One EcoMeditation source of instruction can be found at: https://annesiret.com/eco-meditation/.)

We’re fortunate here at the Center to have workshops on meditation and Mindfulness. The scientific spin from Church’s book, Mind to Matter, can prod us to add these practices to our daily routine.

And so it is.

The Power of Vision

A recent Wall Street Journal article reminded me of the power of vision. The article, “Schwarzenegger Recalls the Good and the Bad,” by Chris Kornelis, recounts Arnold Schwarzenger’s careers and how having a vision has been key to his success.

His two terms as governor of California and sci-fi film icon status as “The Terminator” are the best known of his successes. He’s also been a real estate investor and was a millionaire even before his rise as a film star.

The article reports that Schwarzenegger says “his best and worst bets have had less to do with writing checks and more to do with investing his time and effort in getting ahead -- as well as having a clear vision of what he wanted to achieve and preparing for a job.”

As a teenager in Austria, he saw videos of the U.S.. with the Golden Gate Bridge, Empire State building, huge highways, big Cadillacs with the big wings in the back. He decided he wanted to come to America and his ticket was through bodybuilding. He began to train, joined the Austrian army, and continued to train -- always set on moving to America. After winning Mr Universe age 20, he was invited to train in the U.S. by Joe Wieder.

“Coming to America opened up all the doors that I didn’t even think about,” he says. “My movie career happened, and then my political career and the money, the millions I made, it goes on and on. Everything I have accomplished in life is because of America.”

He says he made it to America because he had a vision. As a teenager he visualized  himself on stage winning Mr. Universe and using that as entree to America.

“The No. 1 lesson of being successful is having a vision,” he says. “Because when you have a vision of where you want to go in life and what you want to be, then it is just a matter of doing the work to get there.” 


He noted one of his worst bets was taking the role in the film, “Hercules in America.”

Since he didn’t speak much English, he was instructed not to talk during the meeting with the producer. But in the film, he was in over his head with no acting training and no emotion behind his memorized lines. This set his film career back a few years.

He advises, “You have to find the sweet spot between having courage and being confident but also knowing that you’re deep into it and you’re not ready for something.” But the experience taught him an important lesson.

“We learn not only just from our success, but we learn actually more from our failures. I really learned to never do anything that you’re not really prepped, overly prepped for. Just like in bodybuilding, don’t go in the competition if you haven’t done the reps. The same is with anything else. Don’t do it if you haven’t done the reps or if you didn’t put the mileage behind it.”

I thought, “There’s an example of Science of Mind in action.” Have the vision. Make it happen. Or as in Spiritual Mind Treatment, “Treat and use your feet.” Think it. Say it. Do it. And the Universe supports you.

As Ernest Holmes says, “...our outlook on life must be transformed by the renewing of the mind, and even when the results are not immediately forthcoming, we must still maintain a calm serenity of thought. We must relight the torch of our imagination by ‘fire caught from heaven.’ We must remain faithful to this vision for a realization of the Presence of God is the secret power of our work.”   

And so it is.

The Spiral of Life

I came across mention of Fred Kofman, author of the new book, The Meaning Revolution...the Power of Transcendent Leadership, in which he argues that  companies can improve long-term growth by helping employees feel that what they do day in and day out makes a difference, that this need to belong and make a difference accounts for some 85% of employee motivation, with incentives such as salary and benefits accounting for only 15%.

The basis is that we have an unspoken and universal anxiety stemming from the fear that our life is being wasted--that the end of life will overtake us when our song is still unsung.

It reminded me of a story about Steve Jobs, convincing the CEO of Pepsi to come to Apple where he, with Jobs,  could make a “dent in the Universe” rather than devote his life to  “sugar water,” And Jobs certainly did make a “dent in the Universe” with his products. such as the iPod and iPhone.

Certainly we don’t want to leave this plane of consciousness with our song “unsung.” But what if we aren’t able to pull it off?  Should that be a major cause of anxiety? Or despair? It seems very limited, very secular, very Earth-bound in its focus. It ignores our spiritual nature, our expressions as spiritual beings having a human experience.

This quote by Ernest Holmes relates to this concept of a “wasted life.”

“The ultimate goal of life does not mean that we shall ever arrive at a spiritual destination where everything remains static and inactive.  That which to our present understanding seems an ultimate goal will, when attained, be but the starting point for a new and further evolution.  We believe in an eternal upward spiral of existence.  This is what Jesus meant when he said, ‘In my Father’s house are many mansions.’ ”

Writer Mark Gilbert interprets the quote this way:

 “Life is about the journey, not the destination. This includes in this lifetime and beyond this experience.

"Reaching some specific goals in this life or the next is a
 very limited way of looking at our spiritual experience.


"The spiral direction reminds us that not only do we go upward, we cannot veer too far from our center.  We may temporarily regress or go backwards, but ultimately life always has an upward direction, even when we think it is not headed that way. 

"The spiral also points out that we may come to what seems to be a similar step in our path as we have traversed before, but we are at a higher turn of the spiral and have a better vantage point and can see and choose what to do from this level of greater experience.



"Finally, there is an acknowledgement that when we do think we have “arrived,” no matter what that looks like, just wait–we are about to launch into a higher adventure.” 


Finding meaning in work is a positive goal. Desiring to sing our song while we still can is another worthwhile goal. It can motivate us to do, be and have what we most long for in this life.

But with a strong grip on the philosophy of Science of Mind, and a deep knowing, we can keep growing and enjoy the journey. We can look to our never ending eternal upward spiral of existence and release any anxiety about a “wasted life.”



And so it is.