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Home > Books > Introduction to the Science of Christian Science
Introduction to the Science of Christian Science
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Product Code: 0-85241-099-9
Manufacturer: Kappeler Institute Publishing
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Cloth, 169 pages
Level:
SUBJECT(s):
Christian Science as a Science
Introduction to the Divine System of Reference (the 7, the 4, and the 4)
Handling Evil/Mortal Consciousness
RELATED RECORDINGS:
A-1, An Introduction to the Science of Christian Science (18 hours, audio)
X-28, An Introduction to the Science of Christian Science (audiobook) (8 hours)
SYNOPSIS: The aim of the book is to provide a general introduction to the scientific fundamentals of Christian Science, and to show how they are applied as an efficient scientific method for resolving problems.
In our longing for harmony and health, we search for an absolute principle of life. Christian Science teaches the Science of Life—the Science of divine Being. Divine Being, God, is the being of all mankind, irrespective of race, color, religion, nationality, or class. This book presents the universal Life-principle that provides the solutions to all of life’s problems. There are four basic prime factors governing the whole of being. Everything going on within being operates in accordance with them.
CONTENTS:
PART I: The Four Prime Factors of the Divine Being
Chapter 1: The Universal Life-Principle: the four prime factors for solving problems
Chapter 2: The Word of God: God defined through the 7 synonymous terms
Chapter 3: The Christ: the Christ-translation
Chapter 4: Christianity: Christianity is true manhood
Chapter 5: Science: Science and revelation
PART II: The Scientific Approach to the Divine Being
Chapter 6: The Scientific Approach to the Word of God
Chapter 7: The Scientific Approach to the Saving Power of the Christ
Chapter 8: The Scientific Approach to the Practice of Christianity
Chapter 9: The Scientific Approach to the Understanding of the Science of Being
Excerpt:
From Max Kappeler, Introduction to the Science of Christian Science, pp. 11–16.
Note to the Reader
The aim of this book is to provide a general introduction to the scientific fundamentals of Christian Science and to show how they can be applied as an efficient scientific method of resolving problems.
The central theme of the book is the scientificalness of Christian Science. One of the special characteristics of a science is its ability to reduce a complex, infinite subject to its basic categories and thereby to its simplicity, making it intelligible, without in any way limiting it. My primary object is therefore to present the scientific system of Christian Science in its fundamental outlines, and so, for the sake of clarity, I have confined myself to essentials. I have thus refrained from dealing with every problem that could possibly arise, and examining it from every angle according to my present understanding of the whole theme. I would ask the reader to bear in mind that in an introductory book of this kind it is not possible to explain every detail and answer every question. I would also ask that you approach the subject with an unbiased and open mind. It may at first seem difficult—more so than when learning any other subject—to accept the fundamentals of the Science of being without mental reservations, when the subject touches one's own life and all its problems as closely as Christian Science does. It will greatly help if to begin with you can lay aside, as far as possible, all the questions, doubts, and objections that occur to you, and concentrate without prejudice on the line of reasoning set out in the following pages. As in every new field, the first requirement here also is to get a general view of the whole subject. For only when you see this whole in broad outline can you properly understand how all the details relate to each other and form the universal coherency of the whole. In proportion therefore as you begin, step-by-step, to grasp the divine system of Christian Science, you will also automatically find clear and satisfactory answers to the questions that called for a solution.
Part I: The Four Prime Factors of the Divine Being
Chapter I: The Universal Life-principle
The four prime factors for solving problems
In their longing for harmony and health, all men search for an absolute principle of life. Christian Science teaches the Science of Life—the Science of divine Being. This divine Being is the being of all mankind; and therefore, the Science that teaches the divine Principle of all being applies equally to everyone, irrespective of race, color, religion, nationality, class, or any other distinctions. It presents a universal Life-principle, which is also universally valid. It is undenominational because it is independent of all religions and ideologies—in fact, it is "scientific." Not only is this Science available to all, but it also provides the answer to all life's problems.
The question then arises: Is there a generally available method that is fundamentally applicable to solving all questions and problems? The answer is: Yes. There are four basic prime factors governing the whole of being. Everything going on within the one infinite Being operates in accordance with it. Thus, we too unconsciously follow these four prime factors of Being when we try to solve our problems. The Science of being deals with these prime factors; they form the basis of divine Science, and hence also of this book.
Four fundamental steps toward the solution of a problem. The four basic steps for solving every problem can best be understood by considering how in the general course of events people would set about finding the answer to any ordinary problem. It will then be shown later what these four basic steps mean, from an absolute point of view, in being.
First step. First, we always refer to some principle, to a guiding principle. We appeal to something; this something will vary according to circumstance and person. For a problem in arithmetic, it will be the principle of arithmetic; for a mechanical problem, the principle of mechanics; for the ordinary problems of life, probably ethical, moral, or religious principles. Many people prefer to appeal to their own feelings, to their intuition. In a business, the staff may refer to their employer; within the family, a wife may turn to her husband. Others make success, wealth, pleasure, and so on, the basis for their decisions. Whatever the individual guiding principle in human life may be, the fact is that everyone turns to something which they can rely on to lead them.
Second step. Why do we act according to a principle (step 1)? Clearly, experience has taught us that there is a comforting, problem-solving, redeeming, and liberating power to be found in following a principle. When, for instance, machinery goes wrong, to mend it we refer to the principle of mechanics (step 1). We do this knowing that only this principle can give us the solution; that we must therefore bring ourselves into line with this principle; that in deciding how to deal with the machine we must be led by this principle alone and trust it unreservedly. This brings us to the second step in solving a problem, namely to trust that the principle we follow has an inherent solving power.
Third step. But it is not enough merely to turn to a principle (step 1) and trust that it will work (step 2). A third step is necessary: We must act in accordance with our principle, apply it, put it into practice, live it, obey it. When a principle is applied it begins to operate according to the law of cause and effect. The right principle, when practiced, always brings about the right effect. Merely to have confidence that a solution lies within the principle (step 2) is not enough. We must avail ourselves of the principle; only then can we receive the benefit that is inherent in the principle. The third step then requires a living practice as a result of the first and second steps.
Fourth step. With the third step, the utilization of the guiding principle, we do indeed achieve results, a practical outcome, but a further, fourth step is still essential. Only too often those who have followed these first three steps still do not find the answer. They experience sickness, lack, deprivation, failure, and discord of every kind. The guiding principle that they trusted, and by which they worked, has had some effect but it has not solved the problem. Why not? Because in the first place they have chosen the wrong principle, and secondly they have entrusted the solving of their problem to this inadequate and false principle, and must therefore, thirdly, arrive at an unsatisfactory result—inharmony, difficulties in every department of life. Via this negative experience they come to the fourth and most important step: They must look for an authority that can also teach them which is the right Life-principle for solving problems harmoniously, and which are the wrong principles and rules that will produce negative results. Consequently in the fourth step comes the crucial question: Who or what is this absolute authority which can show us what the true Principle of life is?
This fourth step, which leads to an understanding of the true Principle of being, is therefore of the greatest importance to us. For when we fathom the Principle of being scientifically and make it our Life-principle and guiding principle (step 1), we can rely on a really dependable help and redeeming power for solving life's questions (step 2) and—because we are using a truly redeeming Principle—we can expect a right and harmonious result (step 3). Like the student who digs deeper and deeper into the principle of arithmetic in order to solve ever more difficult and taxing arithmetical problems, we too must continue to search and explore more profoundly the Life-principle with which we can overcome our everyday problems. This fourth step—the understanding of Truth—must be placed first in importance.
The four fundamental steps in solving a problem are:
- to choose the right guiding principle,
- to trust the problem-solving power of this guiding principle,
- to act in accordance with the guiding principle,
- to understand the Principle of being to be the guiding principle of Life.
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