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Notes and References, 11/19/00 Sin is traditionally thought of in most churches as knowing something is wrong and doing it anyway or knowing something is right but not doing it. Fundamentalist churches believe in original sin and that you can only be saved by accepting Jesus Christ into your hearts. Mary Baker Eddy viewed sin differently. We will naturally be able to find her thoughts on the subject in the Bible because everything in Christian Science is Bible based. Paul said: (II Cor 10:4,5) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; Here we learn that governing your thinking and bringing it into accord with the Christ is our approach. What better way to accept Jesus Christ then to bring your every thought into accord with Christ? But, it also points to the fact that there is a subtle or hidden problem that needs to be addressed in thought as well as the obvious problem that we may be facing. Look at the first page of the last chapter of the textbook: Christian Science heals both the “latent error” and the audible sin. You are required to examine thought and identify the false belief about yourself or others that you are accepting as real. In our original definition of sin it would appear that you are not able to sin if you are ignorant of the sin or mistake. Christian Science says, “not so”. Look at this reference in her chapter Footsteps of Truth: 204:30 This teaches us that we are sinning (or believing in a power opposed to God when we look to matter for answers or are dependent on matter. Problems occur because we have not changed a wrong belief. Mrs. Eddy takes us through the process of advancing out of matter and into a spiritual understanding of Life on page 115 of the textbook: 115:12-3 SCIENTIFIC TRANSLATION OF MORTAL MIND First Degree: Depravity. PHYSICAL. Evil beliefs, passions and appetites, fear, depraved will, self-justification, pride, envy, deceit , hatred, revenge, sin, sickness, disease, death. Second Degree: Evil beliefs disappearing. MORAL. Humanity, honesty, affection, compassion , hope, faith, meekness, temperance. Third Degree: Understanding. SPIRITUAL. Wisdom, purity, spiritual understanding, spiritual power, love, health, holiness. Here we start with the problem. Mrs. Eddy is showing us the transition out of a false belief but we will never heal a thing that way. It is only a process. You cannot start with the problem in Christian Science and dig your way out. The correct way is to take the Christian Science approach of starting with God. Look at the Translation of Immortal Mind. SCIENTIFIC TRANSLATION OF IMMORTAL MIND GOD: Divine Principle, Life, Truth, Love, Soul, Spirit, Mind. Starting with God and seeing yourself as His image or reflection leaves no room for false belief. Again from Footsteps of Truth we find the explanation I support of this argument: If there is in reality no sin then where do bad results come from? She says fear, ignorance or human will. Elsewhere in Science and Health she says “fear, ignorance or sin.” Thus human will must be the same as sin. 411:20 The assignment for next week is to solve a riddle: Another “Y” in the road. One way leads to a fire-breathing dragon. The other to safety. There are two Indians standing at the Y. One always tells the truth and one always lies. You are allowed only one question. You can ask it of either Indian. What is the question to ask that will tell you with 100% surety the road to safety? See you next week. |
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