Note: ExChristianScientist does NOT endorse the views expressed in this article!
ROMANISM - Mary Baker Eddy
In handling Romanism, or the false claim of it, we should never forget the great necessity of keeping it impersonal. We are not fighting people; we are not fighting anything; just handling a false claim of thinking. Someone once came to Mr. Kimball about it, and Mr. Kimball told him it should be like this: "The false claim of Romanism cannot operate through false belief of monk, Pope, cardinal, bishop, priest, nun, church, or congregation, through their belief of prayer, wish rule, desire, intention, curse, anathema, prophecy, prediction, or expectancy to annul a Christian Science treatment, to render it void, or of none effect, or to produce any mental or bodily infirmity."
Christian Scientists should call it Romanism or Jesuitism, rather than Catholicism. The word 'Catholicism' means universal, general, whole, probably akin. One of the schemes of animal magnetism is to get us all to refer to it as Catholic. In reality the Christian Science church is the only Catholic or universal church there is.
The church of Rome calls its ministers Father, its students brothers, its women Mother Superior and sisters. By our calling them Catholics, we virtually include them in our family, identify ourselves with them, and so bring our thinking, to some extent, within their jurisdiction. It is the most psychological organization in the world. It has always worked mentally, and this accounts for what success it has had in putting down all organizations which have opposed it.
Throughout all the ages Brahma preisthood, black magic, black art, and all their kindred evils, have filtered through human consciousness, finally settling in Rome, and ever since, Rome has stood for the very essence of domination.
The false claim is just as powerless as any other error, but it must be recognized for what it is. It is just as bad to ignore it as it is to fear it. Mr. Kimball once said: "You must know that Romanism stands at your head with a gun, but you must always know it is loaded with sawdust." Our Science reveals the nothingness of this false claim, because it is not of God, and Science strips it of all power, action, influence, or law -- leaving nothing whatever to fear, for it is not real.
In handling error, one of the most important things is to recognize the claim. Some confuse the word recognize with the word admit. We must never admit error, but we must recognize what it claims to be, then reject it by knowing its nothingness.
Romanism is really a phase of mortal mind calling itself good; mental malpractice calling itself religion and the way of salvation, and thereby endeavoring to gain the sanction of the whole human race, or a large portion of it.
There could not be such a religion without a wicked God, a God that they say is infinite, but yet knows evil, and if this be true you would have infinite, eternal wickedness. Romanism not only includes a wicked God, but a damned man, or else there would be no salvation in the Roman church.
This false claim is powerless because it is a negation, without influence or law. Mind is the only power, and Mind is infinite God. Hence Romanism is without substance or Truth, Mind, power, or Life, and is really neither thought or influence. Its belief of hypnotism, or hypnotic effort, or any other endeavor, known or unknown, whether it be on the part of one or many, or a mental mob of millions, is powerless to act or to be a law unto us, or to interfere with our work, our health or harmony, success or prosperity, for it is mindless, powerless, and unknown to God and His perfect creation. Our understanding of Christian Science is power, presence, and law, and is consequently a law of annulment and total extinction to the false claim of Romanism.
We are learning that the only way we can commune with God is through spiritual understanding, for God is Mind, and the only thing that is ever near God is His own spiritual ideas.
There is only one Church -- "the structure of Truth and Love;" only one baptism, "the purification from all error;" only one priest, "the spiritualized man;" only one communion, our unity with Mind. Hence all claims of Romanism are spurious, false, unreal, powerless, and unknown to Mind and the Christ-idea. Knowing this, the Christian Scientist is always safe, protected, and beyond any of Rome's supposed activities -- for God reigns and is supreme forevermore.
(end)
Note: ExChristianScientist does NOT endorse these beliefs!
Christian Scientists should call it Romanism or Jesuitism, rather than Catholicism. The word 'Catholicism' means universal, general, whole, probably akin. One of the schemes of animal magnetism is to get us all to refer to it as Catholic. In reality the Christian Science church is the only Catholic or universal church there is.
The church of Rome calls its ministers Father, its students brothers, its women Mother Superior and sisters. By our calling them Catholics, we virtually include them in our family, identify ourselves with them, and so bring our thinking, to some extent, within their jurisdiction. It is the most psychological organization in the world. It has always worked mentally, and this accounts for what success it has had in putting down all organizations which have opposed it.
Throughout all the ages Brahma preisthood, black magic, black art, and all their kindred evils, have filtered through human consciousness, finally settling in Rome, and ever since, Rome has stood for the very essence of domination.
The false claim is just as powerless as any other error, but it must be recognized for what it is. It is just as bad to ignore it as it is to fear it. Mr. Kimball once said: "You must know that Romanism stands at your head with a gun, but you must always know it is loaded with sawdust." Our Science reveals the nothingness of this false claim, because it is not of God, and Science strips it of all power, action, influence, or law -- leaving nothing whatever to fear, for it is not real.
In handling error, one of the most important things is to recognize the claim. Some confuse the word recognize with the word admit. We must never admit error, but we must recognize what it claims to be, then reject it by knowing its nothingness.
Romanism is really a phase of mortal mind calling itself good; mental malpractice calling itself religion and the way of salvation, and thereby endeavoring to gain the sanction of the whole human race, or a large portion of it.
There could not be such a religion without a wicked God, a God that they say is infinite, but yet knows evil, and if this be true you would have infinite, eternal wickedness. Romanism not only includes a wicked God, but a damned man, or else there would be no salvation in the Roman church.
This false claim is powerless because it is a negation, without influence or law. Mind is the only power, and Mind is infinite God. Hence Romanism is without substance or Truth, Mind, power, or Life, and is really neither thought or influence. Its belief of hypnotism, or hypnotic effort, or any other endeavor, known or unknown, whether it be on the part of one or many, or a mental mob of millions, is powerless to act or to be a law unto us, or to interfere with our work, our health or harmony, success or prosperity, for it is mindless, powerless, and unknown to God and His perfect creation. Our understanding of Christian Science is power, presence, and law, and is consequently a law of annulment and total extinction to the false claim of Romanism.
We are learning that the only way we can commune with God is through spiritual understanding, for God is Mind, and the only thing that is ever near God is His own spiritual ideas.
There is only one Church -- "the structure of Truth and Love;" only one baptism, "the purification from all error;" only one priest, "the spiritualized man;" only one communion, our unity with Mind. Hence all claims of Romanism are spurious, false, unreal, powerless, and unknown to Mind and the Christ-idea. Knowing this, the Christian Scientist is always safe, protected, and beyond any of Rome's supposed activities -- for God reigns and is supreme forevermore.
(end)
Note: ExChristianScientist does NOT endorse these beliefs!