This article by Lyle Young was published in the January 2, 2022 issue of the the Christian Science Sentinel.
Over the centuries, political philosophers developed the theory that democracy is a social pact in which people, for their own good, submit themselves to collective decision-making. But even the strongest of democracies needs constant renewal. How can this be accomplished? … The book of First John in the Bible says that God is Love. … Since our origin, our Father-Mother, is divine Love and infinite Spirit, it’s our nature to be loving and spiritual. This means that the aggressive language sometimes used in politics, the virulent attacks, and the tendency to think of those whose policies we oppose as enemies, are not only profoundly anti-democratic but also profoundly alien to our true selves. (Read the full text)
In this short podcast Andrea talks about how she found harmony and unity in her private and business life through understanding God as the divine Mind governing all.
There is an urgent need for justice in our world, a justice that includes every individual. The needs of today are pushing us to search deeply for what true impartiality, fairness, and equality mean.
We can gain a deeper sense of justice by considering a more permanent basis for rights; by considering each one’s divine rights and the laws of God that operate to bless all with goodness. …continue reading
Where restitution is needed – no matter how small or large – divine Love’s law is at hand to bring healing and harmony.
In this article the author, José de Dios Mata, tells of his experience growing up in a dictatorship and how he came to rely on the higher law of Love which transformed his life, resolved unjust legal tangles and healed him physically. This article was originally published in the 28 March edition of the Christian Science Monitor. Click here to read or listen to the full article.
War is in itself an evil, barbarous, devilish. Victory in error is defeat in Truth. War is not in the domain of good; war weakens power and must finally fall, pierced by its own sword.
The members of the Christian Science community in Canberra share their experiences and thoughts on Christian Science:
My family was just about to complete a posting with the Australian Government in Zimbabwe. We had spent a happy three years there and I was now looking forward to returning to Canberra. One evening my husband came home from work and told me that he had resigned from the Australian Government and that he didn’t want to leave Africa again. He had decided that we would go to South Africa where we both had Permanent Residence. It was a bombshell and to be honest, I was very worried about the move as previously I had found it difficult to live in South Africa. I realised that I needed to get my own fears out of the way and just trust in God, good, and know that whatever was right for our family would be revealed.
When we got to South Africa, we had no home, no vehicle, knew no one and it was raining non-stop! I must admit that the human picture was daunting! My husband and I decided that he would go and look for a car to buy and to keep dry, I took our two young girls to spend the afternoon at the city library. While we were there, I met a lady with a little girl the same age as my daughters. She was very friendly and welcoming and it was a very happy encounter.
The following morning, we went to the local Christian Science Church for the first time and took the girls down to the Sunday School. Who should be in the class but the little girl from the library! This just seemed such a wonderful example of God caring for all of us – it was if God was saying – don’t worry, I know exactly what you need and I am going before you!
Back in Zimbabwe, I had decided that I would trust this whole move to God. This encounter in the library was just the beginning of wonderful provision. The next day was the last day of the school year and we needed to get the girls enrolled in schools. We were aware that in South Africa, it is necessary to enrol your child for Kindergarten in good time as there are long waiting lists. However, at the first school we went to, an unexpected vacancy had occurred that very morning and my daughter was interviewed and offered the place. My younger daughter was given a place at the pre-school next door. We then found a small town house to rent in the same road.
Later in the week, my husband was interviewed and offered a place at the university to start a course which was being offered for the first time. Throughout the time that he studied, I was able to find work which paid our living expenses – many things I had never done before but which all fitted in with caring for the girls during the school holidays – I taught pre-school, recorder groups, English and study skills to groups of Eritrean students and ran science courses for teachers from rural areas. It was indeed a time of growth for us all.
Sometimes changes seem to be forced upon us. This experience really showed me that whatever comes our way, God is always with us and knows exactly what we need.
Best of all, when the time was right, we did get back to Canberra!
Where you’re going, Love will lead you. Where you’re walking, Love will guide.
“A few immortal sentences, breathing the omnipotence of divine justice, have been potent to break despotic fetters and abolish the whipping-post and slave market; but oppression neither went down in blood, nor did the breath of freedom come from the cannon’s mouth. Love is the liberator”.
Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (p225) by Mary Baker Eddy
There are complaints that the campaigns of the leaders of the two major parties in our upcoming Australian federal election have been downright dull.
But could that be something to be grateful for?
While there have been some negative comments towards other’s policies, let’s hope that every candidate keeps the negativity to a minimum, especially personal criticisms.
Perhaps surprisingly, that’s not only good for the sake of civil discourse, science says it’s also good for the candidates.
A study published in The Journal of Politics notes that “there is no consistent evidence in the research literature that negative political campaigning ‘works.’” The report goes on to say, “While attacks probably do undermine evaluations of the candidates they target…they usually bring evaluations of the attackers down even more.” A lose-lose situation for all concerned.
The mood of the public always dips during negative political campaigns. Normal people with the best of motives can get caught up in the anxiety and anger of opposing sides.
There’s substantial research that suggests political sledging and nastiness can cause emotional extremes and unpleasant physical symptoms. And the worse the negative campaign becomes, the more anxiety and illness may be experienced.
It seems that a more effective political campaign is built on honesty. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science and a leading thinker on the connection between spirituality and experience wrote in her primary work, Science and Health: “Honesty is spiritual power,” a viewpoint that brings health and harmony to all aspects of our lives and the world around us. “Dishonesty is human weakness, which forfeits divine help” (p453) – forfeits success, peace and happiness.
Irrespective of our beliefs, most of us seek morally upright and harmonious government.
Apart from the obvious benefits to the electorate of honest politicians, another research study discovered that honesty is good for the politician too – the less people lie, the better they feel, both mentally and physically.
The constant barrage of human opinions also seems to play an exaggerated role during the lead up to an election. We’d be better off if we rejected the kind of thinking that takes offense at harsh opinions or perspectives, or reacts in fear that they can harm us or our country.
Disciplining our own thought, refusing to dwell on another’s personality or personal opinions and their amplification in the media, is possible and will add to our continued wellbeing.
A spirit of fair play suggests that we give candidates space to have their say, and then it’s our task to discern their motives and look at their record.
For me, as a Christian, that means prayerfully listening for and being guided by universal, divine intelligence and wisdom that discerns the very contents of each heart.
I’d have to say that I’ve found it to be quite a challenge to set aside my past allegiances or political inclinations and to open-mindedly vote, according to the above guidelines, for the individual who I feel will do the most good for the electorate at any particular time.
As a Christian Scientist, specifically, I think we can aim for a win-win result in the 2016 elections, whatever our political stance, by considering this view expounded by Eddy:
“We should remember that the world is wide; that there are a thousand million different human wills, opinions, ambitions, tastes, and loves; that each person has a different history, constitution, culture, character, from all the rest; that human life is the work, the play, the ceaseless action and reaction upon each other of these different atoms. Then, we should go forth into life with the smallest expectations, but with the largest patience; with a keen relish for and appreciation of everything beautiful, great, and good, but with a temper so genial that the friction of the world shall not wear upon our sensibilities; with an equanimity so settled that no passing breath nor accidental disturbance shall agitate or ruffle it; with a charity broad enough to cover the whole world’s evil, and sweet enough to neutralize what is bitter in it…” (MiscellaneousWritings p224, Mary Baker Eddy).
This article was contributed by Kay Stroud, a life-long Christian Scientist, who is a freelance writer focussing on the undeniable connection between our thinking and our experience including our health. She writes for metropolitan and regional news media throughout Australia and beyond, and is a regular contributor to Australia’s national forum, Online Opinion, and the APN regional network in Northern NSW and Queensland.
Christian Science Canberra 