 Posted Tuesday, November 12, 2002 9:04 AM
|
|
|
|
I just finished Linda's book a couple of days ago. If you have not yet read it, then I highly recommend that you get on over to amazon and order it. I also read Blue Windows right before that. I think that it would benefit everyone here to read them both.
I fear, however, that the more I research and study CS the harder it becomes to see my grandmother ever becoming free from this terrible stronghold of CS. I think the overwhelming fear that CS uses to keep control over it's "students" will cripple her forever. She studied under a man named Mr. Watson, whom knew Mrs. Eddy personally. How do you loose someone from the grips of the blasphemy of having the Great Comforter in a book? Mrs. Eddy honestly believes that she brought forth the Holy Spirit in CS? The audacity and ego of her statments is mind boggling. My grandmother embraces it with all her heart. I know that she truly loves God. The Word says, "No one can come to me unless the Father draw him." Why does He not draw them? I know, they have full access to the Word. But they do not understand what they read. Mrs. Eddy has twisted these words to conform to her demented standards. It makes me angry. It breaks my heart. I wonder what "fear and trembling" Mrs. Eddy is experiencing trying to work out her salvation now.
|
|
|
Posted Tuesday, November 12, 2002 3:13 PM
|
|
|
|
Dear Renee,
I don't think CS followers have "full access" to the Word of God. Carolyn Poole told me once that "The Key to the Scriptures" MBE used was for the purpose of LOCKING the Bible, not unlocking it. As long as CSers read the Bible with MBE and her writings looking over their shoulder, "explaining" it to them, they will never have full access to the Bible. I think the only way to break this chain wrapped around the Bible is to have the people read the enitre Bible, or the entire new Testament, or even the entire Gospel of John with an attitude of simply trying to understand what it is saying. If people try to read the Bible through the lens of CS, and try to "make it say" what MBE says it says, then they will be blinded and frustrated.
As far as MBE, I would not want to be in her shoes right now.
Carl
|
|
|
Posted Tuesday, November 12, 2002 3:43 PM
|
|
|
|
I wonder what would happen if CSers reversed what Carl said to read S&H through the lens of the Bible and tried to make S&H say what the Bible says.
I suggested to my CS mother that the CS movement would be better off declaring a one year (or even a week) moratorium on MBE's writings to focus exclusively on the Bible. Her reply was there would then be no point to having the church. At least she understood that much.
Do Go Be Man
|
|
|
Posted Tuesday, November 12, 2002 3:54 PM
|
|
|
|
<< TextAs far as MBE, I would not want to be in her shoes right now. >>
Amen, Carl, Amen.
I know that you are right. I am just very frustrated. I gave my grandmother my copy of the Case for Christ and she wouldn't read past the first chapter. She told my sister that it just said "terrible, disturbing things". Anything that is not pleasant is just swept away. I remember something happened to my sister, I don't remember what, but it was a bad situtation. My grandmother, trying to comfort her said, "Rely on God, He only knows what is good in life. He knows nothing of this." I remember her giving me a look of astonishment, saying, "What good is it to rely on God if He's not even big enough to know what's happening to me?" I feel like I am banging my head on a wall....I'm getting a head ache.
Reading Blue Windows and The Religion That Kills brought back so many memories. I have not set foot in a CS church in 16 years yet I can still quote the Scientific Statement of Being. I still remember the bed time prayer...Father, Mother, God guide my little feet up to Thee. One I quoted frequently was "When the illusion of sickness or sin tempt you, cling steadfastly to God and His idea." Today I try to just cling to God. The only illusion, CS, gratefully shattered by Truth Himself.
I hope that you guys can bear with me. I must say that not for the first time, I am really angry about this relgion and the destruction that it causes. The fact that my grandmother may very well go to hell for MBE makes me nuts. She will follow this women and her words straight to the pit. I feel helpless. And angry, really angry.
|
|
|
Posted Tuesday, November 12, 2002 4:56 PM
|
|
|
|
Dear Renee,
I can so totally relate to what you are saying. I read both those books last year. I was very angry too. Angry for a lost childhood, angry because of a mother/daughter relationship that could have been but wasn't because of what some whacko woman had brainwashed my mother into believing as true. Now I see a woman that is clinging to what she thought was true but is now failing her miserably. So now she has turned to 'medical' for help and guess what, she is getting better. But, does 'medical' get any credit, no of course not. You see the doctors were all 'God's perfect child' and of course there is only one 'Mind', so that's the doctors too. And of course if she hadn't harboured anger against someone in her life many years ago she wouldn't be having this experience to begin with.
How do we help people like this? How do we get them to read the Bible without looking through the lens of CS. Once I started reading the Bible on its own, I was amazed at how many significant verses there was that I had actually never heard of in CS. But isn't the mindset in CS that if MBE didn't mention it, it's not worth being mentioned. How do you combat that?
You know funny thing you mentioning about being able to quote the Scientific Statement of Being. I have the same problem. Try as I might I can't get rid of these things from my memory. Also included in that is 'What Is Man'. Believe it or not this morning I woke up humming a hymn. At first I didn't think much about it because quite often I'll wake up humming some sort of tune. I just about had a cardiac when I realized it was Mothers Evening Prayer I was humming. I very quickly replaced it with Amazing Grace.
I don't think I've helped you very much Renee, but I sure can sympathize with you.
Sue
|
|
|
Posted Tuesday, November 12, 2002 7:20 PM
|
|
|
|
that the more I research and study CS the harder it becomes to see my grandmother ever becoming free from this terrible stronghold of CS.
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
Renee, do you believe that?
|
|
|
Posted Tuesday, November 12, 2002 7:56 PM
|
|
|
|
Thanks, Sue. It helps just knowing that my anger and frustration are validated. I feel the Lord prompting me to say something straight out to her the next time she tries to tell me how to handle a problem or illness. He has allowed me to basically stay silent, but no longer. I fear for our relationship. I know myself, and I know that I will be honest to a fault. I will tell her what I think of CS.
I thank God daily for my mom and dad. I never experienced what so many children of CS did. I always knew that a skinned knee or fever would be treated with love and kindness. I do remember questioning CS from the very beginning though. I would ask why I had to wear a coat or rain gear. It wasn't real, and nothing could make me catch a cold, right? Mom always said that Mrs. Eddy said that it was best not to tempt mortal mind. That tickles me now. Don't tempt the real world into making itself known!
In reading Carolyn Fraser's, Linda's and Barbara Wilson's books I am appalled that I ever believed such things as CS. Mental Malpratice? That is something to chew on, is it not? That someone's thoughts have power to kill. Who, in all honesty, would still be alive? Driving on a Houston freeway would no longer be a problem, there would be no traffic. It seems ludicrous that I ever believed it. Telling someone that you were ill can make you sicker and for longer? Me thinks I am digusted.
|
|
|
Posted Tuesday, November 12, 2002 7:56 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted Tuesday, November 12, 2002 8:27 PM
|
|
|
|
Thank you Renee for your message about mental malpractice.... I have been in the "never-ending" argument with my step-mom about that absurd concept. That I actually have the power to hurt another person by thinking negative thoughts about them or their situation.
When my mother died of cancer ( under the care of CS practitioner) my brother (also as CS Practitioner) felt it necessary to tell me that I had put so much stress on my mother because I was getting married during her illness ( she wanted to see me in her wedding dress), that I indeed had caused her to die. Not CS failing her, but me. That my fears, stress, etc had caused her to die early.......
I think that concept is one of my biggest problems in CS. Having the ability to practice "mental malpractice"sound a bit narcissistic to me. The guilt that others can lay on you can really be overwhelming.
Thank you also for your review on the books that you have mentioned, I look forward to ordering them as well, and reading them.
Kristi
|
|
|
Posted Tuesday, November 12, 2002 10:43 PM
|
|
|
|
It is amazing how much is coming back to me as I read what you have all been saying. I promise you that as the years go by (23 for me) you start to forget the quotes of MBE. I can still remember bits and pieces of these quotes, but I do remember all of God's Word that I put to memory. God is gracious to heal these things with time. I had anger toward CS after my father died so young (61) of a stroke that could have been prevented with medication and diet. I have the same medical problems and do not wish to die as my father did, so I listen to my doctor. Time and learning to forgive has helped me get through this anger. Remember God gave us free will and only he can bring people to Him not us.
The greatest disgust I have for CS is that it makes people feel guilty if they do not receive healing. They have not prayed enough or believed enough so they are at fault. I wonder if there is a lot of mental illness in CS. My 81 year old mother, a 30 year + CS Practioner, is a basket case because she has supressed all negitive feelings and thoughts. She is seathing beneath a thin wall that explodes out easily when she is stressed and then she feels guilty and beats herself up for letting it out. It took me years to allow myself to have negative thoughts or feelings. I no longer suffer from depression and have learned to allow myself to be rightously angry and not to suppress it. CS has kept my mom mentally unhealthy because of this. Is it Mental Malpractice to say what is true?
My mom talks down to me when mentioning my use of Medical Science. Amazingly even though she feels I am spiritually back slidden, she constantly picks my brain on spiritual things when we talk. She is seeking God but is still so blinded. I always pray that God will open her eyes to see the truth before it is too late. I use to use kit gloves with my mom because of a fear of her rejecting me, but being truthful with her has actually made our relationship better.
In Ephesians 6:12, ""For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the dakness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedess in the heavenly places." Prayer and reading God's Word is what will break these bonds on our love ones. Thank you for showing me that I need to be more diligent and patient about the salvation of my family. May God Bless you all!
Donna T.
|
|
|
|