What is religious science?

Question: "What is religious science?"

Answer: Religious Science isn't that well known. It started in 1927 when a man named Ernest Holmes was encouraged to organize a group to formally study his teachings on metaphysical spirituality. Holmes himself studied the mind science teachings of Dr. P. Quimby, Mary Baker Eddy, Charles Filmore, and Ralph Waldo Emerson, along with eastern mysticism and religion such as Hinduism. He took a little from each of these (Christian Science, Unity, transcendentalism, etc.) and formulated his own belief system, which he then gave lectures on. It was after writing a book titled The Science of the Mind that his teachings became very popular, and the Institute of Religious Science and School of Philosophy was formed. More groups were started each year up through the mid-50's, when leaders within the Institute proposed to create a central governing body to oversee each group. Many of the "churches" balked at this, which created a rift. From this rift formed the United Church of Religious Science, also known as Science of Mind, and Religious Science International. Both of these groups of churches basically have the same belief system, though teachings can vary quite widely, and coexist very well together.

The bulk of Religious Science beliefs centers around the idea that God is everywhere and everything is in God. It becomes a simple, scientific matter, then, of getting in touch with that Source and becoming unified with It. Religious Science teaches that all paths lead to God, and so all sacred literature is used to define and discuss spiritual principles for living, the Bible being one of them. The key, however, to unlocking the mysteries of God isn't found in a book or in writings, but within oneself. Religious Science teaches how this might be done.

Obviously, Religious Science is a complete departure from biblical teaching. There isn't one biblical doctrine held as Truth by Christians that Religious Science believes is true. From God to sin, creation to salvation, each belief held by the Science of Mind is in direct opposition to Scripture. Consider the following, which was found on the website of a Church of Religious Science in California: "Science of Mind in its broadest and truest sense includes the best in science, religion, and philosophy. Science of Mind is not a personal opinion, nor is it a special revelation. It is the result of the best thought of the ages. It borrows much of its light from others, but in so doing does not rob anyone, for truth is universal and never personal. We need the entire revelation of the whole world, and even with this we shall have little enough. Science of Mind teaches that there is a favorable physical reaction, an effect, which follows a pattern of thought incorporating ideas of health, for the law of cause and effect governs everything. Similarly, it is held that right thinking will result in a greater experience of success and abundance. A successful person thinks success, and the law of mind that reacts has no other choice than to produce an effect corresponding to the causative idea."

Religious Science is what Jesus spoke of in Matthew 7:21-23, "Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as 'Lord,' but they still won't enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven. On judgment day many will tell me, 'Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.' But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Go away; the things you did were unauthorized.'" According to Religious Science, salvation comes from the realization that you are actually a part of God, and by weeding out the bad in your life through scientific/philosophical principles. Unfortunately for Religious Science adherents, Christ has something quite different to say about that, "Jesus told him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me'" (John 14:6).

Recommended Resource: The Kingdom of the Cults, revised and updated edition.