Christian Science and vaccinations
I appreciated the News-Post’s good-faith effort to convey the viewpoints of different churches and religious groups on vaccination (“What different religions say about vaccinations,” 3-17-19). Might I offer a little more background to clarify Christian Scientists’ perspective? It’s unusual, but doesn’t fit the stereotypes people often assume.
Christian Scientists’ views on this issue are rooted in the ethics of the Golden Rule as Christ Jesus taught it. We take to heart the basic Christian commitment to be good neighbors and citizens and to respect the rights and concerns of others in our communities, including in Frederick County.
Though our spiritual practice of healing through prayer differs from the norm in today’s world, it has nothing to do with sticking to religious dogmas from the past. The motives for this practice come from love, just as the motives of good doctors do, and from the actual experiences of healing through God’s love that have continued in our lives. We’ve been grateful over the years for religious exemptions from vaccination when legislatures and public health authorities have granted them, but we don’t promote fear of vaccines or object to their use in society. Where vaccination is required, we obey the law’s requirement.
In the early twentieth century—another period when vaccination was controversial—our church’s founder, Mary Baker Eddy, asked Christian Scientists not to “quarrel” with society over this issue, but to work out differences with others on the basis of mutual understanding and respect. This is still our aim as a church. As an official of the denomination put it back then, Christian Scientists recognize the need “to be careful in respect to the spreading of disease,” and the true spirit of healing always requires conscientious wisdom, consideration for people’s needs, and the tender inspiration of love for all God’s children of every faith and background.
Kate Johnson
Christian Science Committee on Publication for Maryland
Lunch with Jesus, by Thomas (Tim) Mitchinson
In this article, Thomas (Tim) Mitchinson, a colleague and a writer, who writes about the relationship between thought, spirituality and health, and trends in that field, offers much for us to consider. He shares his spiritual perspective and the account of the ministry of Jesus in the Bible, as a guide to overcome animosity and hatred directed at ourselves and others. Tim acknowledges how the Sermon on the Mount (given to us by Jesus) is the saving grace that can and does bring healing to every challenge we may face. Enjoy this eye opening article and prepare to be inspired by Love!
Every year I read The Traveler’s Gift by Andy Andrews. It is a novel about a young man facing huge crises in his life, and after a car accident he finds himself traveling through time. He is met by various historical figures, each one giving him a piece of valued advice.
He meets Presidents Truman and Lincoln, Christopher Columbus and Anne Frank among others. That book is a quick read, and one of my favorites, but it always leaves me thinking, “With whom would I like to meet and share a few moments of discussion?”
Like the character in the book, I would love to meet Truman and Lincoln, and probably John Adams, Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky and maybe even comic Phyllis Diller, whose movies made me laugh as a kid.
But there is no one I would rather sit down and speak with than Jesus. With all the division, controversy, and threats of violence this world faces, I would love to have “lunch with Jesus” so to speak – to hear what he would say, and also ask his advice on how I could help heal these divisions by living a better life. But actually, I know his words to me would not deviate from what has already been recorded in the Bible.
Please click here to read the entire article
#wellbeing #spirituality #prayer
Kate is interested in sharing blogs about the impact of prayer and spirituality on our health written by her colleagues. As a Christian Science practitioner and teacher, Kate has experienced the power of prayer in her life as well as in the lives of others. She is the media and legislative contact for Christian Science in Maryland. Kate can be contacted through Twitter @CScomMaryland and email at: maryland@compub.org
How Prayer Defuses Violence, by Eric Nelson
How prayer defuses violence, by Eric Nelson
With violence in America becoming an all too frequent part of our daily news, Eric Nelson, a colleague and a writer, who writes about the link between consciousness and health from his perspective as a practitioner of Christian Science, explores this current trend. He shares his spiritual insight and a story of an inmate who experienced a spiritual transformation that resulted in a peaceful outcome to a volatile situation. Eric goes a step further by acknowledging how seeing ourselves (and everyone else) as children of God can and does shift thought from violence to brotherhood and peace!
All it took for Roger to decide not to kill someone was to be reminded he was a child of God.
Roger (not his real name) was an inmate in a Pennsylvania jail when my friend Dave met him. Dave, a Christian Science practitioner and teacher from California, was there to give a ministerial talk as a representative of the local Christian Science Church.
“After my talk, Roger, a great big guy, came up to me and said, ’Man, you really messed me up,’ said Dave as we were having lunch one afternoon. “He said, ‘You were talking about what it means to be a child of God. That’s who I am.’ Then he said, ‘I want to tell you, before this talk, they brought a guy into the jail, and he and I have had this thing going on out on the street back and forth, and I said to myself, I’m going to kill him. Today’s the day. I don’t care what happens to me, we’re going to end this thing, right here, right now.’”
All Dave could do was keep listening
“He said, ’And then for some reason, I decided to come hear this stupid talk. And now I’ve got to go back to my cell, and I’ve got to think about myself as a child of God and what that means, and I’ve got to think about him that way too, don’t I?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, you do.’ By this time, tears were streaming down his face. He gave me a big bear hug and he says, ‘Thanks for messing me up, man.’”
Please click here to read the entire article
#wellbeing #spirituality #prayer
Kate is interested in sharing blogs about the impact of prayer and spirituality on our health written by her colleagues. As a Christian Science practitioner and teacher, Kate has experienced the power of prayer in her life as well as in the lives of others. She is the media and legislative contact for Christian Science in Maryland. Kate can be contacted through Twitter @CScomMaryland and email at: maryland@compub.org
Break down walls of bigotry with Love, by Ingrid Peachke
In the tumultuous clime of the world today, Ingrid Peschke, a colleague and a syndicated writer, who focuses on consciousness, spirituality and health, gives us much food for thought in this heart-felt article. She shares her spiritual view point and statements from others on how Love can conquer hate and bigotry. Ingrid acknowledges how through prayer (a deep connection to God) and study of the Bible, she has seen and experienced a divine Love that heals all of our wounds both mentally and physically. Join me and read this stimulating article on how truly loving our fellow man can bring peace!
When former inmate and skinhead gang member Michael Kent was assigned to an African-American probation officer, his life took an unexpected turn. His new officer didn’t judge him, but she encouraged him to surround himself with positive symbols, not hateful ones. “If she believes in the good in people, I know I can, too,” he said in an interview with ABC News. He now refers to her as “family,” and he has taken down the Nazi flag that hung in his living room. He’s also covered up the swastika tattoo that had been on his chest for more than 20 years.
I’d like to think his probation officer expressed the spirit of love that the Apostle Paul spoke of when he addressed the Romans, who were longtime persecutors of Christ Jesus’ followers. “Don’t just pretend to love others,” he said. “Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other” (Romans 12:9, 10, New Living Translation).
Paul’s words echo Jesus’ statement: “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you” (John 15:12, NLT). To illustrate this idea, Jesus tells a story highlighting the kindness of a humble Samaritan who helped a Jew in great need, despite hundreds of years of hatred and intolerance between the Jews and Samaritans. He challenged his audience then – and now – to break down those walls of hostility and to love the very person we’ve been taught to hate.
Please click here to read the entire article
#wellbeing #spirituality #prayer
Kate is interested in sharing blogs about the impact of prayer and spirituality on our health written by her colleagues. As a Christian Science practitioner and teacher, Kate has experienced the power of prayer in her life as well as in the lives of others. She is the media and legislative contact for Christian Science in Maryland. Kate can be contacted through Twitter @CScomMaryland and email at: maryland@compub.org
Does Age Really Matter? by Valerie Minard
Valerie Minard, a colleague and writer, who writes about the connection between consciousness, spirituality and health, explores this universal query in her thoughtful article. She shares her spiritual insight and stories of others who challenge the long standing thought that we have to accept the thought that age can and will limit us both physically and mentally. Valerie acknowledges that thought governs how we perceive life and by looking through a more spiritual lens (seeing ourselves as God sees us) will keep us engaged and receptive to experiencing and learning new things daily. This shift in expectation is the key to achieving and maintaining a renewed, unlimited and joyful future!
Tennis player Venus Williams gets it all the time. Questions about her age. Although the 37-year-old is ranked ninth in the world and is having her best season in years, reporters always question her age, as if she has exceeded her shelf life as a tennis player and her next game might be expected to be her last.
She reminds the reporters that age doesn’t matter. She is at the top of her game and still has much to offer.
“These things I know, that I’m quite strong and I’m quite capable,” she said. “So that’s all I need.”
When asked the reason for her continuing success, she says, “There are a lot of explanations. But all I can say is that I’m grateful.”
And perhaps those two comments — that age doesn’t matter and that she is grateful — are the key to her success. That’s a lesson we can all remind ourselves of when we begin to attach limitations to age.
While thoughts of aging focus on time — past years accumulating and fears regarding future prospects — gratitude focuses on present good. This opens our thought to all the new ways God is meeting our need and lifts our thoughts away from self-pity to how we can give back to others.
Please click here to read the entire article
#wellbeing #spirituality #prayer
Kate is interested in sharing blogs about the impact of prayer and spirituality on our health written by her colleagues. As a Christian Science practitioner and teacher, Kate has experienced the power of prayer in her life as well as in the lives of others. She is the media and legislative contact for Christian Science in Maryland. Kate can be contacted through Twitter @CScomMaryland and email at: maryland@compub.org
The most important thing we can teach our kids, by Eric Nelson
This article, written by Eric Nelson, a colleague and a writer, who focuses on the link between consciousness and health from the perspective of a Christian Science practitioner, addresses the importance of instilling spiritual development in our children. He shares his spiritual insight and opinions of others (who are actively involved in education) who agree that spiritual development is as important to the public arena as cultivating intellectual, physical and social skills. Eric goes a step farther by acknowledging how learning more about love (a ‘moral and spiritual culture’) elevates thought and society. Read this sensitive and powerful article-be prepared to be up lifted!-
‘Ignoring spiritual development in the public square,’ says columnist David Brooks, ‘is like ignoring intellectual, physical or social development.’
There are plenty of things we should be teaching our kids in order to ensure their happiness, health and success, but by far the most important is how to love. It’s unlikely, however, that you’ll find any mention of this in most school’s core curriculum. At least not directly.
“My job is not to get [my students] into Stanford,” said Palo Alto, California, schools chief Glenn McGee in a 2015 New York Times article. “It’s to teach them to learn how to learn, to think, to work together – learn how to explore, collaborate, learn to be curious and creative.”
A step in the right direction, to be sure. But it leaves out the key component.
Love is not just window dressing for an otherwise (and hopefully) exemplary school career. It’s the window itself, the portal through which we see the world and the world sees us. Without it our lives have a tendency to fall into the mental darkness that can cause kids to either give up or, worse, check out, evidenced in the recent and repeated outbreaks of teen suicide. This needn’t be the case.
Please click here to read the entire article
#wellbeing #spirituality #prayer
Kate is interested in sharing blogs about the impact of prayer and spirituality on our health written by her colleagues. As a Christian Science practitioner and teacher, Kate has experienced the power of prayer in her life as well as in the lives of others. She is the media and legislative contact for Christian Science in Maryland. Kate can be contacted through Twitter @CScomMaryland and email at: maryland@compub.org
Father, son and holy spirit, by Moji George
Moji George, a colleague and Christian Science Committee on Publication for Nigeria West Africa, investigates the ongoing debate on this religious topic. In this article, she shares her spiritual perspective, quotes from the Bible and the gospels of Christ Jesus as guides to the true meaning of Father, son and Holy Spirit. Moji acknowledges God as the Father of All, Christ Jesus as the Savior of all and the Holy Ghost as the Comforter that Jesus promised. Join me and read this inspiring article.
According to Christian dogma, one of the doctrinal points in the church is the inseparability or unity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It has been called the Holy Trinity, or the three persons of the Godhead. God is said to be a trinity in unity, three in one. Since the word Trinity does not occur in the Bible, and was not a word used by Christ Jesus after whom Christianity is named, and on whom the church is founded, there continues to be some argument within the church and among theologians and religious scholars, as to the meaning of the Holy Trinity.
The Bible, as well as Christ Jesus, mentions God as Father. It mentions the Son of God as the Saviour of the world, and it mentions the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost as the divine Comforter, which would lead man into all truth. In the Old Testament, Genesis 1 mentions God, the Word (accepted to indicate the Son), and the Spirit. However, the New Testament is more definite. In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commissions His disciples to go, teach and baptise in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Moreover, I John 5:7 states: ‘For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one. These Bible verses indicate that there are three distinct Persons, although they are the same in essence, substance or nature.
Mary Baker Eddy, founder of the Church of Christ, Scientist, writes in her book on Christian healing entitled Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, that the ‘Triune Person called God represents a trinity in unity, three in one, — the same in essence, though multiform in office.’ She identifies God the Father; Christ the spiritual idea of sonship; and the Holy Comforter. Eddy goes on to say that these three express the threefold, essential nature of the infinite, as well as reveal the intelligent relation of God to man and the universe.
Please click here to read the entire article
#wellbeing #spirituality #prayer
Kate is interested in sharing blogs about the impact of prayer and spirituality on our health written by her colleagues. As a Christian Science practitioner and teacher, Kate has experienced the power of prayer in her life as well as in the lives of others. She is the media and legislative contact for Christian Science in Maryland. Kate can be contacted through Twitter @CScomMaryland and email at: maryland@compub.org
Can you think your way to better health? by Steven Salt
In this article, Steven Salt, a colleague and a blogger, who writes about health, spirituality and thought, takes us on a spiritual journey. He shares his spiritual insight, thoughtful analogies and the results of studies on the positive effect of thought on both mental and physical health. Steven acknowledges how spirituality-the understanding of God and his relationship with man-produces consistent, positive impact on our health and well-being. Read this eye opening article on how to achieve and maintain good health-it’s a must read!
“Now think, men, think!”
Professor Harold Hill’s desperate plea as he stands before his ill-prepared River City Boy’s Band with a broken pool cue for a director’s baton, is the iconic and ironic highlight of “The Music Man,” the endearing stage and film musical.
Having convinced the gullible parents that he could produce a band and taken their money for instruments and uniforms, the lovable con artist reluctantly turns to his own confidence scam, the “Think System,” in his desperate attempt to avoid the wrath of the townspeople as they are about to hear the not-so-melodious sounds of their children’s instruments.
Thinking actually had little to do with the scheme the professor devised. He was literally as well as figuratively handcuffed by a lack of musical know-how. Producing musical concord is a science, involving knowledge of the rules of harmony and their implementation. Ignorance of the principles and procedures ensures cacophony.
Health can be viewed in much the same way. Just like creating pleasing sound in music, producing harmony of mind and body is a thoughtful process, to say the least. You simply can’t skimp on quality thinking and sound reasoning when it comes to well-being.
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#health #spirituality #prayer
Kate is interested in sharing blogs about the impact of prayer and spirituality on our health written by her colleagues. As a Christian Science practitioner and teacher, Kate has experienced the power of prayer in her life as well as in the lives of others. She is the media and legislative contact for Christian Science in Maryland. Kate can be contacted through Twitter @CScomMaryland and email at: maryland@compub.org
Lessons Learned (or not) from the ‘Summer of Love’, by Eric Nelson
The path to enlightenment has been sought after long before and continues long after the Age of Aquarius. In this article, Eric Nelson, a colleague and a writer, who writes about the link between consciousness and health from the perspective of a Christian Science practitioner, explores this interesting topic. Using his spiritual insight Eric shares the history of the ‘Summer of Love’- a time of experimentation and the use of hallucinogenic drugs believed to bring about spiritual enlightenment and personal liberation. He acknowledges- through his own experience- that the only way to achieve true spiritual enlightenment is through prayer-a deep bonding with God without the use of drugs of any kind. Join me and read this eye opening article on the true path to enlightenment!
It’s been 50 years since San Francisco played host to the Summer of Love, a months-long gathering of mostly young people drawn to the “turn on, tune in, drop out” philosophy of Timothy Leary and other like-minded counterculturists. The time was ripe, it seemed, for this eclectic group of music loving, war opposing “flower children” to band together in a joint affirmation of peace, love, and spiritual enlightenment.
“Harmony and understanding / Sympathy and trust abounding,” sang the tie-dye clad cast of the psychedelic rock musical “Hair,” whose co-authors had spent the early part of that same year in San Francisco. “No more falsehoods or derisions / Golden living dreams of visions / Mystic crystal revelation / And the mind’s true liberation / Aquarius, Aquarius.”
However, as pleasant and as promising as this all sounds, the lingering notion that casual sex and hallucinogenic drugs – two of the musical’s and that summer’s prominent themes – might somehow play a role in someone achieving true enlightenment deserves further scrutiny.
Please click here to read the entire article
#wellbeing #spirituality #prayer
Kate is interested in sharing blogs about the impact of prayer and spirituality on our health written by her colleagues. As a Christian Science practitioner and teacher, Kate has experienced the power of prayer in her life as well as in the lives of others. She is the media and legislative contact for Christian Science in Maryland. Kate can be contacted through Twitter @CScomMaryland and email at: maryland@compub.org
The (spiritual) limits to technology, by Eric Nelson
With our growing dependency on technology today, Eric Nelson, a colleague and writer, who writes about the link between consciousness and health from the perspective of a Christian Science Practitioner, addresses this current enigma in this article. Eric shares his personal experiences and spiritual insight to explain and explore the limitations of technology and artificial intelligence. He acknowledges how true wisdom and intelligence come from God and how the connection (between God and man) gained through prayer, study of the Bible and trust enables resolution to challenges of every kind. Perhaps focusing less on human technology and more on gaining spiritual intelligence through prayer is what is needed to empower and improve our lives today and forever- see what you think!
Understanding the source of intelligence as being purely spiritual helped this writer to overcome many challenging situations, both technical and physical.
Technology has its limits, not the least of which is its ability to provide any real connection with the ineffable, the transcendent, or the divine.
This is essentially the point I tried to make during a recent dinner conversation. Someone had suggested that human know-how – and, by association, human progress – was on the verge of being superseded by artificial intelligence, and I begged to differ.
It’s not that I have anything against technology. Far from it. It’s just that I have yet to see it come even remotely close to providing the sort of life-transforming wisdom that, at least for me, has only ever come through conscious communion with God.
Please click here to read the entire article
#wellbeing #spirituality #prayer
Kate is interested in sharing blogs about the impact of prayer and spirituality on our health written by her colleagues. As a Christian Science practitioner and teacher, Kate has experienced the power of prayer in her life as well as in the lives of others. She is the media and legislative contact for Christian Science in Maryland. Kate can be contacted through Twitter @CScomMaryland and email at: maryland@compub.org
