The Imperative Step: The Step from Metaphysics to Science in the Light of Christian Science

This step, which each of us must take individually, is something that mankind is also taking collectively and universally. This new mutation in consciousness is why we are witnessing turmoil, as well as seeing revolutionary new ideas coming forth.

This step, from ordinary metaphysics to the Science of Being, is something Jesus and Mary Baker Eddy taught, and John W. Doorly (London, 1878–1950) and Max Kappeler (Zürich, 1910–2002) took.

The purpose of this book is to present a comprehensive awakening to this great step, and to gain an understanding of what this new form of consciousness will be. In reading recent books by metaphysicians, psychologists, physicists, and biologists, it is interesting to note the depiction of an imminent new mutation, the transformation of man. They ask, "What will come after man?"

R. Buckminster Fuller (1895–1983) considered this question. He was a comprehensivist (had a wide knowledge base), a designer, a philosopher, and a visionary. He was the architect and engineer known throughout the world as the creator of the geodesic dome. He wrote many popular books, including the Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth, and Utopia or Oblivion, and was nominated for the 1969 Nobel Peace Prize. He was also a cosmogonist (one who studies the creation of the universe). In writing about the "new mutation," Fuller said:

"There is a great possibility that all humanity is about to go through an experience in relation to the universe which will be such a great change that it will be equivalent to the coming out of a womb with a set of conditions very familiar, into quite unfamiliar conditions, as at birth." ("Buckminster Fuller: Some Fundamental World Trends", Ideas of Today, Vol. 14, #12 (Nov–Dec. 1965), p. 14.)

Ruth Nanda Anshen, (1900–2003), a world renowned philosopher, author, and editor wrote:

"It is the thesis of World Perspective that man is in the process of developing a new consciousness … a fresh vision of reality … Man has entered a new era of evolutionary history, one in which rapid change is a dominant consequence … [W]e stand at the brink of an age of a world in which human life presses forward to actualize new forms." (Ruth Nanda Anshen, "World Perspectives," in Marshall McLuhan and Harley Parker, Through the Vanishing Point (New York: Harper and Row, 1968), pp. xv, xx.)

Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910), discoverer and founder of Christian Science, saw this new mutation dawning when she said:

"Eternal Truth is changing the universe. As mortals drop off their mental swaddling-clothes, thought expands into expression. 'Let there be light,' is the perpetual demand of Truth and Love, changing chaos into order and discord into the music of the spheres" (S&H 255:1).

Some time ago I read a joke in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer: "A certain politician said, I'm 100% for progress. It's just all this change that I'm against." Aren't most of us like that? We think we want "progress," but when change is imminent, we resist it. We don't want to be bumped out of our little rut. It is important to understand the simple difference between progress and the forthcoming "great change," or mutation.

Max Kappeler spoke about progress as being an extended linear line of development, while mutation is a complete change—something new and quite different comes forth. For example, man's first mode of transportation was by foot. Then from foot, he went by horseback. Then, there was a mutation. With the invention of the wheel, transportation was transformed. Then, from this new form, transportation "progressed" from wagon, to train, to car. This was an extension of the original design; it was "progress." But then another mutation occurred—the airplane. From the airplane, we have progressed to spaceship. Charles Lindbergh stated in Life Magazine (July 4, 1969) that he was "no longer interested" in spaceships. He felt the time was not too far distant when we would travel without spaceships. That would be another mutation in transportation—teleportation.

Progress, then, is a linear line of development. A mutation is a complete break in the line of progress; it results in a shift in what is possible, and leads to progress in new directions.

It is important to realize that mankind is going through a mutation in consciousness and, in order to flow freely with the rapid changes occurring, we must be comprehensivists, and not specialists. A specialist works with parts, fragments, and isolation. A comprehensivist takes a whole-world view. As Scientists we must be comprehensivists—embrace a more comprehensive view—because what we are seeing in Science is the truth about being. If what we see in Christian Science is the Truth, then it must be the truth about all of mankind and not just the truth about the lives of a few Christian Scientists. Fuller urged us to culture a comprehensive view when he said, "Over-specialization brings extinction."

Kappeler asked many times. "Why doesn't the world take notice of Christian Science any more?" He felt it was because Christian Scientists tend to become isolated because they have their own unique terminology. They can communicate with each other, but when they talk with a physicist, a biologist, or a psychologist, their ability to communicate is hampered by a lack of shared vocabulary. It is a case of specialization.

In his book, Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth, Fuller gives an example of the dangers of specialization. He tells of a certain type of bird that existed when the earth's polar ice caps were expanding. This bird lived on a special variety of micro-marine life, which was found only in certain marshes along certain ocean shores. The birds migrated to where they could find micro-marine life to feed on. But as the polar ice caps began to expand, the water began to recede. The birds with the shortest bills were the first to die since they could not reach the food. But the birds that had longer beaks reached the marine life and were able to stay alive. Through generation after generation of inbreeding and propagation of the longer-beaked birds, the bills kept getting longer and bigger. And even though the polar ice caps kept on expanding and the water was receding, the birds got along fine, until a fire came to this marsh area. Then disaster struck. The birds found they could not get air-borne because of their enormous beaks. Through over-specialization of their long beaks they lost their general adaptability to fly. So they all perished. (R. Buckminster Fuller, Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth (Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 1969), pp. 40–41.)

We must cease being specialists and awaken to a bigger world view, awaken to the fact that mankind is going through the steps from metaphysics to Science. When we speak of the step from metaphysics to Science, we mean the step from the limited metaphysical system of reference (human mind, matter, sense testimony, personality, death, mortal consciousness, imperfection) to Science with its divine system of reference (Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, and Love). Again, to state it simply, it is a mutation from fragmented and specialized thinking of the human mind to structure and comprehensive spiritual awareness of the divine Mind.

Today, we are beginning to let go of our interest in specialization and fragmentation as we become aware of the fact that our individual problems are not just personal isolated problems. We are beginning to see the world in its structural context. We are beginning to see that every individual problem that appears in the world today is solved only by understanding its place-value within the entire structure of things.