Archive for November 2024

Love – the Only Response to Conflict   Leave a comment

For those who seek to know how to think and pray about conflict take comfort in these readings from the Bible (KJV) and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy on the topic: Love – the Only Response to Conflict.

The Path Out of Hatred   Leave a comment

by Deborah Huebsch published in the September 16, 2024 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel.

Because everyone is God-created, it is possible to see that each individual is worthy of—and able to—love.

Burning, white-hot hatred. We know it when we see it—fueling wars, spawning deep political divisions. Most of us yearn to see hatred give way at least to tolerance—and certainly love would be the ideal. But how do we get there? 

You might be thinking, “I don’t hate.” Or, “I don’t personally deal with hatred.” But as we take a closer look, we may recognize ways we do feel dislike, animosity, or even hostility. For example, are we neutral when it comes to politics? We might even find ourselves rationalizing these feelings because, after all, there seem to be reasons for them. …

Click here to continue reading, or to listen to, Deborah’s article. In it she describes how she managed to overcome a long-term hatred and how she now uses this understanding to help her bring a sense of peace to other areas of her life.

Tackling the Underlying Threat to Democracy   Leave a comment

A Sentinel Watch interview with David Brown and Mark Sappenfield, Editor of the Christian Science Monitor.

Click here to listen.

At the moment, it would seem that the world is politically quite polarised. In the media more attention is paid to the things that divide us than to the things that unit us. Sentiments are felt strongly resulting in divisions even within families. With US election fresh in thought and the expectation of an election in Australia early this year, this discussion is very timely. David and Mark share ideas on how we as individuals can support a genuine sense of unity and peace.

Elections – making a choice   Leave a comment

by Judith Hedrick – published in the Christian Science Sentinel, October 30, 2024

Elections are times of choice. Yes, whenever an election is held, we decide on different issues and between political parties and their candidates. But we also make a deeper choice about what we believe is the power which governs.

What is the ultimate power governing me, my family and friends, my country, and even the world? Is it human personalities or is it God? Is it mortal mind or the divine Mind? Where do I put my faith?

Any polarization or conflict that arises in elections is the result of the belief that power belongs to people, who have both good and evil qualities, instead of to God. We get riled up because we are convinced that there are candidates whose political positions and activities will harm us. If personalities are able to rule, we do have reason to fear. 

The Bible points us in a different direction, though: “Power belongeth unto God” (Psalms 62:11). Accepting that God, good, is all-powerful and governing human existence frees us from fear and distress. The Bible also says, “I am the Lord, and there is none else” (Isaiah 45:6). This shows us that the enemy is not a person. It is the false belief that there is a power, mind, or presence other than God. Click here to continue reading.