CULTS CRITIQUE
by Betty Brueehert
W h en E rne st H olmes died in April, 1960, at the age o f 72, the Science o f Mind Church of Re ligious Science which he founded in 1932 was said to comprise about 100 churches w ith 100,000 members. Doubtless it has grown since then. The cult is strictly a California product, although Holmes was a na tive o f Maine. His 667-page volume, Science o f Mind, together with the monthly magazine which he origi nated, also entitled Science o f Mind, contain the basic teachings o f the sect. Its terminology so closely re sembles that o f Christian Science and Unity that as one plows through Holmes’ huge and dreary volume, he receives the impression that he is reading a slightly recast version of the writings o f Mrs. Eddy or the Fillmores. For example: “ There is something Divine about us . . . Man, the real Man, is birthless, deathless, changeless; and God, as man, in man, is Man. The highest God and the innermost God is One and the same God” ( Science of Mind, p. 388 ); “ The true idea o f money is not material, it is spiritual. . . Daily give thanks for a perfect supply. Feel it to be yours, that you have entered into full possession o f it. See money coming to you from every direction” (p. 44, Science o f Mind mag. June 1957). Indeed, Holmes claim an affinity with such cults: “ This teaching [Oneness o f God and man] . . . is the mainspring o f the teaching o f modern philosophies, such as Unity Teaching, the New Thought M ovem en t, the Occult Teachings, the Esoteric or Inner Teachings, o f our own Religious Science . . .” ( Science o f Mind, p. 640). Although like Unity, the Church o f Religious Science is built on high- sounding affirmations, it is neverthe less filled with blasphemous denials of the teachings o f God’s Word. In the July 1955 Science of the Mind magazine, Holmes stated: “ You be lieve there is a God and a devil. Well, I don’t believe that. Jesus did not believe in good or bad, God and the devil, heaven and hell” ; “ The only sin is lack o f intelligence. There is no sin but a mistake and no punish ment but a consequence” ; “ All the teachings o f hell and damnation and devils is so much nonsense.” In the Metaphysical Glossary in his book,
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This unusual new series is intended for daily, intensive Bible study, and as a thorough but inexpensive commen tary on the entire Bible. Each volume is d iv ided into app roxim a te ly 92 separate, undated sections covering one or more books of the Bible, according to length. Thus, personal Bible study help is provided for daily use over a period of three months. The studies are related to the R.S.V. text, and were prepared by a team of evangelical scho la rs who concen trated on helpful exegesis without undue involvement in technicalities. Eight volumes now available; the re maining 12 volumes scheduled for release at the rate of four a year. Now available: Joshua—II Samuel; I Kings —II Chronicles; Ezra—Job; Psalms; St. Mark; St. Luke; Acts; ICorinthians —Galatians. Only $1.25 each 8-39 At your bookseller s IVc W M . B. E E R D M A N S P U B LIS H IN G CO. Grand Rapids, Michigan THE KING'S BUSINESS
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