Inductive or Deductive Reasoning
	Notes and References 7/29/01 Inductive or deductive reasoning? What does it mean to know the Truth? John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Does it mean to understand the Truth or could it mean to know as you know a close friend? We need to get friendly with Truth and trust Truth as we would our best friend. Our closest friend would never let us down. We could say anything to our best friend. And, there is nothing we would not do for our best friend. Knowing the Truth must not just be understanding the words but rather, being on intimate terms with what is true! Is it possible to know all of Truth? If it is infinite then the answer must be no? The Truth reveals itself to you as you are receptive to it;--as you come to it with a receptive heart. If we start with a general principle that Truth is All we must then apply that statement to our daily lives. If, however, Truth reveals itself in our experience by some event that could have no other origin we seek more of this Truth having been inspired by the event. This is the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning. In this weeks lesson we read: 461:4 Christian Science must be accepted at this period by induction. The paragraph goes on to say: We admit the whole, because a part is proved and that part illustrates and proves the entire Principle. Christian Science can be taught only by those who are morally advanced and spiritually endowed, for it is not superficial, nor is it discerned from the standpoint of the human senses. Only by the illumination of the spiritual sense, can the light of understanding be thrown upon this Science, because Science reverses the evidence before the material senses and furnishes the eternal interpretation of God and man. Elsewhere in her writings (MY 349) she says that “inductive reasoning reckons creation as its own creator, seeks cause in effect, and from atom and dust draws its conclusions of Deity and man, law and gospel, leaving science at the beck of material phenomena, or leaving it out of the question.” This seems to be a contradiction to the sentence from the lesson. But, if we read the whole paragraph it is clear that Mrs. Eddy is referring to material reasoning vs. spiritual reasoning. Sunday School affords us all kinds of opportunities for deductive reasoning but that is a more academic approach and will not allow to heal unless you make the general principle your own, until you know it like your best friend. My 349:27 Inductive or deductive reasoning is correct only as it is spiritual, induced by love and deduced from God, Spirit; only as it makes manifest the infinite nature, including all law and supplying all the needs of man. Wholly hypothetical, inductive reasoning reckons creation as its own creator, seeks cause in effect, and from atom and dust draws its conclusions of Deity and man, law and gospel, leaving science at the beck of material phenomena, or leaving it out of the question. To begin with the divine noumenon, Mind, and to end with the phenomenon, matter, is minus divine logic and plus human hypothesis, with its effects, sin, disease, and death. It was in this dilemma that revelation, uplifting human reason, came to the writer's rescue, when calmly and rationally, though faintly, she spiritually discerned the divine idea of the cosmos and Science of man. We have talked about the need to recognize Christian Science as a revelation not just a system or philosophy. This Truth has the ability to reveal itself in consciousness as we come to Truth with a pure thought, a pure heart. “Purity is the path to perfection” we are Taught in the textbook. We must not try to humanize or materialize Truth. We must, instead, spiritualize out thinking, our concept of body, family, etc. When you come to Truth with a pure heart, with the sanctity of virginity” Truth will reaveal itself to you and you will see clearly the true facts of existence that could never include sickness, unemployment, lack of grace or lack of intelligence. Health, power, endurance and beauty are seen to be your natural state and become visible in your life. You do not therefore change a sick body into a well body. Instead, Truth revealed changes your concept of body. This higher concept is the truth and health (which, in the absolute), is revealed and you see a healing. This proof points to the higher principle (inductive reasoning). This type of thinking is scientific. With such inspiration we need only to follow the following to maintain your intimate relationship with Truth: My 210:2 Beloved Christian Scientists, keep your minds so filled with Truth and Love, that sin, disease, and death cannot enter them. It is plain that nothing can be added to the mind already full. There is no door through which evil can enter, and no space for evil to fill in a mind filled with goodness. Good thoughts are an impervious armor; clad therewith you are completely shielded from the attacks of error of every sort. And not only yourselves are safe, but all whom your thoughts rest upon are thereby benefited. If we now turn to the steps leading perfection, as one of you did during class today, we are guided by the Scientific translation of Immortal Mind found on page 115: 115:12-3 SCIENTIFIC TRANSLATION OF IMMORTAL MIND GOD: Divine Principle, Life, Truth, Love, Soul, Spirit, Mind. MAN: God's spiritual idea, individual, perfect , eternal. IDEA: An image in Mind; the immediate object of understanding. — Webster. Note: the following correctly depicts the process of what happens in consciousness but it does not indicate a rule for thinking. We must not start with the physical or material. That trivializes or minimizes God. We must start with God and work out from that highest concept in order to see Truth revealed. You are the “immediate object of Mind’s understanding”. Truth, Mind knows you, understands you, recognizes your perfection. You need only to submit to Truth. Let Love induce its effects. 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. Finally, one of you asked about salvation and how to be saved. The 4th Tenet answers that question completely. It is through being at one with Love and practicing Truth as Jesus did. The definition of FAN in the glossary (Separator of fact from fable; that which gives action to thought) requires that our inspiration is followed with inspired acts. That may be an inspired choice of what movie to see, who to date, what level you take the conversation to in a social circle, courtesy on the road or sharing with others. When Truth is revealed in the small day to day acts then you are getting friendly with Truth others will see the Truth by induction. 497:13 4. We acknowledge Jesus' atonement as the evidence of divine, efficacious Love, unfolding man's unity with God through Christ Jesus the Way-shower; and we acknowledge that man is saved through Christ, through Truth, Life, and Love as demonstrated by the Galilean Prophet in healing the sick and overcoming sin and death.
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