Very nice quote! I’ve noticed one of the characteristics that comes with the belief of age is an unwillingness or resistance to learn new things (change/grow). This quote takes that idea one step further. Mrs. Eddy in Science and Health says that God’s idea is continually evolving (developing, advancing, progressing, changing), so we should look forward to learning new things instead of viewing that as a burdensome activity.
From Science and Health, page 295:
God creates and governs the universe, including man. The universe is filled with spiritual ideas, which He evolves…
Now that’s a wake up call! My father loved life and expressed gratitude for learning something new every day and always making new friends. He worked until 89 years “young”, as he would say, before passing on. starting now I am embracing change and growth. Thank you Evan for these wonderful reminds as I go about my busy evolving life.
Someone once said that a moving river purifies itself every 1000 feet.
Mary Baker Eddy tells us, in her book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” in referring to God, divine Mind, and its ideas:
“Mind’s infinite ideas run and disport themselves. In humility they climb the heights of holiness.” And, “God rests in action.” (Pg. 519)
Such MOVEMENT, here! I love the river analogy, and your reminder, Evan, to keep moving, changing, improving….is a good one! Nothing stagnant, old, worn out, useless, in God’s infinite and very lively! creation!
Mary Baker Eddy is not around to revise her textbook any longer, so there will be no more revisions of her book. It is what it is. However, I expect over the centuries many more books will be written by other authors that help elucidate the Principle she saw and understood. Just like the Bible. The Bible is what it is. There is a fundamental core message in there that people are taking centuries to understand. And thousands of books have been written about the Bible to help people understand what that message is, but none of them replace the Bible. People keep going back to the Bible because of its profound teaching.
I think of Christian Science as a “science” like mathematics. A mathematics textbook describing addition and subtraction written thousands of years ago is still valid today because the science of addition and subtraction do not change.
But the point that some things change and others don’t is an interesting one. Mrs. Eddy in Science and Health (pg 2) writes:
> God is “the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever;”…
She also frequently uses the word “immutable” when referring to God and God’s laws, immutable of course meaning “unchanging”.
So I guess it’s good for us to distinguish between what is subject to change and what is not. It will be fun to think about that some more, so thanks for bringing up this question!
Addition and subtraction are long-standing tools created by humans to describe our strange material universe. Moreover, we don’t revere a singular textbook from the Dark Ages describing simple math as divinely revealed and inerrant, do we?
Why would we revere a singular textbook about Christian Science as inerrant, despite self-referential claims of inerrancy, especially when CS proofs are not as consistent/applicable/universal as mathematical proofs?
Moreover still, mathematics changes as our understanding improves.
We invent better mathematics (analytic geometry, calculus, etc.) when we seek to revise and question everything.
I’m not sure I get the point of your line of questioning. If you feel you can write a better version of Science and Health than Mary Baker Eddy did, why don’t you write it and distribute it and establish your own church like she did or do whatever you feel is missing from the existing Christian Science movement? And I don’t mean for that to sound negative. I just feel that if someone doesn’t like something, they should work to change it.
The point is that math ≠ Christian Science.
Math does not require faith to demonstrate, or love to understand.
And math improves and changes, unlike the CS textbook.
And we don’t revere mathematicians like Pascal as the Discoverer and Founder of a Divinely Revealed (and INERRANT) Truth, as Christian Science does with Mary Baker Eddy.
We can courageously think for ourselves without needing to invent a new religion, don’t you think?
I agree. I believe the Germans have 2 translations of S&H and I must admit that some of Mrs Eddy’s vocabulary stumps me. I have to go to a translation in French to understand several words, such as “aught” “obtain” (in certain contexts) “aver” words no longer in use today. Somemtimes I long for an overhaul of S&H in modern English.
My spiritual sense understands everything that’s manifested of The divine Mind in the Bible and Science and Health. I strive to always let my reading be to spiritual sense because that’s where the instant Light and Truth are recognized and realized.
Very nice quote! I’ve noticed one of the characteristics that comes with the belief of age is an unwillingness or resistance to learn new things (change/grow). This quote takes that idea one step further. Mrs. Eddy in Science and Health says that God’s idea is continually evolving (developing, advancing, progressing, changing), so we should look forward to learning new things instead of viewing that as a burdensome activity.
From Science and Health, page 295:
God creates and governs the universe, including man. The universe is filled with spiritual ideas, which He evolves…
Now that’s a wake up call! My father loved life and expressed gratitude for learning something new every day and always making new friends. He worked until 89 years “young”, as he would say, before passing on. starting now I am embracing change and growth. Thank you Evan for these wonderful reminds as I go about my busy evolving life.
Someone once said that a moving river purifies itself every 1000 feet.
Mary Baker Eddy tells us, in her book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” in referring to God, divine Mind, and its ideas:
“Mind’s infinite ideas run and disport themselves. In humility they climb the heights of holiness.” And, “God rests in action.” (Pg. 519)
Such MOVEMENT, here! I love the river analogy, and your reminder, Evan, to keep moving, changing, improving….is a good one! Nothing stagnant, old, worn out, useless, in God’s infinite and very lively! creation!
Thanks; I needed that!
:<))
Winston Churchill once said, “To ismprove is to change;to be perfect is to change often”. (1920)
And what do we say of a philosophy that is done changing?
Can the textbook of Christian Science ever be revised or improved upon?
Our understanding of the textbook can be improved!
So the textbook requires no revisions and no improvements? (It’s only our understanding of the textbook that can be improved?)
Mary Baker Eddy is not around to revise her textbook any longer, so there will be no more revisions of her book. It is what it is. However, I expect over the centuries many more books will be written by other authors that help elucidate the Principle she saw and understood. Just like the Bible. The Bible is what it is. There is a fundamental core message in there that people are taking centuries to understand. And thousands of books have been written about the Bible to help people understand what that message is, but none of them replace the Bible. People keep going back to the Bible because of its profound teaching.
I think of Christian Science as a “science” like mathematics. A mathematics textbook describing addition and subtraction written thousands of years ago is still valid today because the science of addition and subtraction do not change.
But the point that some things change and others don’t is an interesting one. Mrs. Eddy in Science and Health (pg 2) writes:
> God is “the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever;”…
She also frequently uses the word “immutable” when referring to God and God’s laws, immutable of course meaning “unchanging”.
So I guess it’s good for us to distinguish between what is subject to change and what is not. It will be fun to think about that some more, so thanks for bringing up this question!
Addition and subtraction are long-standing tools created by humans to describe our strange material universe. Moreover, we don’t revere a singular textbook from the Dark Ages describing simple math as divinely revealed and inerrant, do we?
Why would we revere a singular textbook about Christian Science as inerrant, despite self-referential claims of inerrancy, especially when CS proofs are not as consistent/applicable/universal as mathematical proofs?
Moreover still, mathematics changes as our understanding improves.
We invent better mathematics (analytic geometry, calculus, etc.) when we seek to revise and question everything.
I’m not sure I get the point of your line of questioning. If you feel you can write a better version of Science and Health than Mary Baker Eddy did, why don’t you write it and distribute it and establish your own church like she did or do whatever you feel is missing from the existing Christian Science movement? And I don’t mean for that to sound negative. I just feel that if someone doesn’t like something, they should work to change it.
The point is that math ≠ Christian Science.
Math does not require faith to demonstrate, or love to understand.
And math improves and changes, unlike the CS textbook.
And we don’t revere mathematicians like Pascal as the Discoverer and Founder of a Divinely Revealed (and INERRANT) Truth, as Christian Science does with Mary Baker Eddy.
We can courageously think for ourselves without needing to invent a new religion, don’t you think?
I agree. I believe the Germans have 2 translations of S&H and I must admit that some of Mrs Eddy’s vocabulary stumps me. I have to go to a translation in French to understand several words, such as “aught” “obtain” (in certain contexts) “aver” words no longer in use today. Somemtimes I long for an overhaul of S&H in modern English.
My spiritual sense understands everything that’s manifested of The divine Mind in the Bible and Science and Health. I strive to always let my reading be to spiritual sense because that’s where the instant Light and Truth are recognized and realized.