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In
the past few weeks I have truly realized how grateful I am to be a
Science of Mind minister. The religious and political leaders who
have been bringing religion into the news have given me the opportunity
to understand the chaos that develops when Intelligence is absent from
religion. Jesus understood this more than any other mystic or
spiritual teacher, and that is why, I believe, Dr. Ernest Holmes, the
Founder of Religious Science and author of "The Science of
Mind" ... had so much love and respect for Jesus ... as do I.
Religious Science teaches that the way to a life of peace, love, joy and
goodwill ... is through non-judgment ... "judge not lest ye be
judged," declared the Master Mind Jesus, "for by the measure
that ye judge, ye shall be judged." This statement is an
Intelligent understanding of the Law of Cause and Effect ... every
action has a consequence ... our predominant thoughts, ideas and
beliefs, create our experiences. This is why Dr. Holmes and Jesus
taught that our minds must be free from negativity ... in order for us
to experience God.
But ...
some of the Catholic hierarchy haven't got it yet ... they still persist
in holding on to judgments and even going so far as to
"threaten" their followers with their "opinions"
about right and wrong:
DENVER — In stark and dramatic language,
the Roman Catholic bishop of Colorado Springs, Colo., has declared that
anyone voting for a politician who supports same-sex marriage, abortion
rights, stem cell research or euthanasia will be denied communion in the
church.
Now ... if the politicians
would make similar statements like the Bishop's above ... the religious
would be screaming about "separation of church and state" ...
and it might be said that this type of declaration would discourage
people from voting at all ... after all ... one candidate may be
"pro-choice" ... but the other candidate is definitely
"pro-capital-punishment and pro-war" ... is it okay with the
Catholic Bishop to kill people once they are born? How does this
Bishop feel about interracial marriage ... marriages between Catholics
and non-Catholics ... I think if he would share his opinion on these
issues we may find the "cause" of his intimidation and
miss-use of his religious position.
The same can be said of the governor of
Massachusetts, Republican Governor Mitt Romney ... the governor, like
the current U.S. president, wants to ban same-sex marriages ... based on
religious reasons ... his attempts to do so failed so now he is using a
1913 law that was enacted to bar interracial marriages ... (legalized
hate crime) ... the governor, like the current U.S. president does not
believe that the courts should make important decisions like same-sex
marriage (... just on who should be president ... I guess). The
governor might want to check with the history of his church, The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Mormons .... viewed as a cult
in its early beginnings the Mormons were driven out of many states and
finally settled in Salt Lake ... there is much in their history that
shows the horrendous effects of judgment and intolerance ... and the
church gained its rights through ... take a guess? ... the courts.
Emerson stated that if we keep doing the
same thing over and over again and expecting a different result that is
the definition of insanity ... I would probably not go so far as to say
insanity ... but it is un-intelligent.
In the Science of Mind we
learn that our minds must be free ... and open to the Infinite impulse
of Love, Joy, Peace, Harmony and Understanding ... judgments create
conflicts ... conflicts create confusion ... and confusion creates chaos
... and is there not enough evidence to support this Truth? If you
don't think homosexuals should get married ... then don't marry
one ... if you think a presidential candidate should not be allowed to
take communion ... then don't give him the cookie ... but remember ...
judgment has a consequence ... and it is not theirs ... it resides in
our very own consciousness waiting to be experienced.
And
So It Is!
Maximum Love,
Rev.
Hank Bates
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