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Home > Books > References in the booklet Compendium for the Study of Christian Science #1–10
References in the booklet Compendium for the Study of Christian Science #1–10
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Product Code: 0-942958-24-1
Manufacturer: Kappeler Institute Publishing
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Spiral bound, 302 pages (in 2 volumes)
Level:
SUBJECT(s):
Christian Science as a Science
The Bible in the Light of Christian Science
The 7 Synonymous Terms for God
RELATED RECORDINGS:
A-6I, Syllabus I (31 hours, audio)
X-6, The Tonality of the 7 Synonyms for God (5 hours, audio)
SYNOPSIS: Mary Baker Eddy (discoverer and founder of Christian Science) said that upon the 7 synonymous terms for God rests the Science of Being. We must learn the divine meaning of Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, and Love. Building upon the work of his teacher, John W. Doorly, Max Kappeler presents the ideas or characteristics of each of the 7 synonyms as defined in Science and Health. The Compendiums are a must-study for every sincere student of Science. They are a basic primer.
CONTENTS:
#1: Introduction
#2: The Seven Days of Creation
#3: The Commandments, The Beatitudes, the Lord's Prayer
#4: Mind
#5: Spirit
#6: Soul
#7: Principle
#8: Life
#9: Truth
#10: Love
EXCERPT: From Max Kappeler, References in the booklet Compendium for the Study of Christian Science, #1 Introduction, pp.3–5.
It is clear and definite from Mrs. Eddy's writings that she regarded and described her discovery as Science. We become more and more conscious of the importance of the fact that Mrs. Eddy has set forth the Science of all sciences, when we hear that for several years scientists in the most varied fields have recognized that these fields cannot be divided from one another; on the contrary, the necessity of finding a common basis for all fields is being more and more forced upon them. Doctors are seeking cooperation from theologians, economists from sociologists, physicists from philosophers, and so on. Behind this urge is the still dim recognition that there is only one universal Cause, and that this must be the cause of all effects. It is a search for a universal Principle (usually called "God"). The textbook explains this universal Principle, the Principle of divine Science and the Science of all sciences. "All Science is divine" (S&H 126:8.).
Science demands unprejudiced, inquiring, free and fearless thought. It is the field of free research, of tolerance and understanding.
But religion alone, based on blind faith in prescribed doctrines and blind obedience to paragraphs and persons—religion without Science—leads to intolerance, stagnation and fanaticism.
III. Science Defined
Once it has been recognized that "Science" is the central point, it must be decided what the requirements are to justify this designation. A science is based on fixed laws, order, rules, a coherent system, method, form, and plan. A science must be exact, teachable, learnable, usable, provable, impersonal, timeless, unconditional, and universal. That Christian Science fulfills these requirements will later be shown in greater detail.
First it is important to see that Science has nothing to do with the apprehension of single facts, but with the comprehension of these single facts in their relation to a whole. Funk & Wagnalls' Dictionary explains science as follows: "Knowledge of a single fact, not known as related to any other, or of many facts not known as having any mutual relations or as comprehended under any general Law, does not reach the meaning of science; science is knowledge reduced to law and embodied in system.…"
The teachings of Christ and Christian Science rest on the basis of Science. They are not fragmentary, but coherent. "Principle is not to be found in fragmentary ideas" (S&H 302:1–2).
S&H 98:26–30: "Mystery does not enshroud Christ's teachings, and they are not theoretical and fragmentary, but practical and complete; and being practical and complete, they are not deprived of their essential vitality."
S&H 259:1–5: "Man is not absorbed in Deity, and man cannot Lose his individuality, for he reflects eternal Life; nor is he an isolated, solitary idea, for he represents infinite Mind, the sum of all substance."
Only too often we are apt to perceive single disconnected facts without understanding their relationship in a universal plan or system. Thus they remain fragmentary; they have no coherence, are not seen in the Light of their one Principle, and so are not understood but only memorized or believed. Here a nice Bible verse, and there a good sentence, here a beautiful thought, and there a pious saying—these do not attain the meaning of science. Thus we can see that nearly all religious instruction, as customarily administered, states only single truths and is deprived of the power of demonstration. Teaching of this kind is fragmentary, and cannot be understood but only memorized or believed.
IV. System
Science must be based on a system. One may well ask, therefore, whether Christian Science is anchored in a system of ideas or not. Mrs. Eddy writes very plainly on this point:
S&H 146:31–147:5: "Divine metaphysics is now reduced to a system, to a form comprehensible by and adapted to the thought of the age in which we Live. This system enables the Learner to demonstrate the divine Principle, upon which Jesus' healing was based, and the sacred rules for its present application to the cure of disease."
The study of Christian Science must, therefore, be directed to the understanding of this system of divine metaphysics.
S&H 546:27–30: The proof that the system stated in this book is Christianly scientific resides in the good this system accomplishes, for it cures on a divine demonstrable Principle which all may understand.
S&H 342:18–20: Shall it be denied that a system which works according to the Scriptures has Scriptural authority?
S&H vii:27–viii:4: Since the author's discovery of the might of Truth in the treatment of disease as well as of sin, her system has been fully tested and has not been found wanting; but to reach the heights of Christian Science, man must Live in obedience to its divine Principle.
S&H 547:3–8: If one of the statements in this book is true, every one must be true, for not one departs from the stated system and rule. You can prove for yourself, dear reader, the Science of healing, and so ascertain if the author has given you the correct interpretation of Scripture.
S&H 483:22–27: Because the Science of Mind seems to bring into dishonor the ordinary scientific schools, which wrestle with material observations alone, this Science has met with opposition; but if any system honors God, it ought to receive aid, not opposition, from all thinking persons.
Many people have a certain aversion to the designation "system"; they think that it is something cold, abstract, and learned. But it is not so at all. This false conception must be completely overcome, or one will not be able to grasp the deeper meaning of divine Science; again and again Mrs. Eddy points out that her discovery and the operation of divine Principle are based on system.
The following example shows the necessity for system. A schoolboy can learn to reckon in two ways. One is to learn by heart various calculations such as: 2 x 2 = 4; 5 x 5 = 25; 10 + 5 = 15, etc. The schoolboy can then use the calculations he has learned, but it would be quite impossible for him to master the infinite calculations of arithmetic, with the result that he would be able to solve only very few of the problems he might encounter.
In religion this first method might be compared with the type of instruction whereby individual statements of truth or Christian principles are learned by heart and now and then a good thought is pondered.
The second way is to learn systematically. The schoolboy first learns the digits from I to 9. This may be tedious to begin with and not capable of immediate practical application as with the first way. He then learns the rules of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. This simple series of numerals and the four processes of calculation provide him with the system of arithmetic and he can perform all the additions, subtractions, multiplications, and divisions in the realm of arithmetic. A simple means has unlocked for him infinite arithmetical calculations. That is the purpose of a system; it can and does bring the infinite into a simple and easily understandable form. See again:
S&H 146:31–147:5 "Divine metaphysics is now reduced to a system, to a form comprehensible by and adapted to the thought of the age in which we live. This system enables the learner to demonstrate the divine Principle, upon which Jesus' healing was based, and the sacred rules for its present application to the cure of disease."
Mrs. Eddy's theme was God, the Infinite. She was faced with the question: How can man grasp God, the Infinite? She resorted to the generally accepted means, a science based on system. She reduced divine metaphysics to a system—a system of divine ideas.
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