We learn that every text, be it a road sign, an advertising jingle, a newspaper article, a classic novel, or a religious text, is read in some sort of context. This context shapes the way we read or interpret the text.
If you have ever felt that the Bible - especially the Old Testament - is a book of violence and war, then Mrs. Eddy's introduction to Chapter XV "Genesis" in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (SH), may open new doors of thinking about it.
Following on from one of the "important points, or religious tenets, of Christian Science" (SH p. 497), namely, that "...the inspired Word of the Bible [is] our sufficient guide to eternal Life" (ibid, p. 497), Eddy speaks of "scientific interpretation of the Scriptures" (ibid, p. 501) as needing to begin with Genesis.
The import seems to be that if we establish a clear understanding of Genesis, we will have a helpful context for the interpretation of the whole compilation, called the Bible. Further, Eddy cautions that in our search for truth, it is Spirit, not intellect or scholarship, which brings out the true meaning - see p. 505: 13-28.
"The calm and exalted thought or spiritual apprehension is at peace." (SH 506:11-12)
Sunday, 10 June 2018
Wednesday, 6 June 2018
Lessons from light
Have you ever seen an old sunbeam? There's no such thing.
Is there a sick sunbeam? A sad sunbeam? A hurt sunbeam? Not as far as I know.
Can a sunbeam get stuck, be static, not shine? Interfere with or influence another sunbeam?
In fact, as shared at our testimony meeting today, doesn't each beam enhance the other?
I love that the opening "In the beginning..." of the book of Genesis - the first in the Old Testament, though not the first to have been written - is the story of being; of timelessness. In the Chapter Genesis of her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mrs. Eddy writes that "in the beginning...signif[ies] the only" (p. 502:25).
Light is a wonderful symbol for the timelessness and infinitude of the universe of Spirit, and to glimpse this is surely a sign of progress.
Julie Swannell
Is there a sick sunbeam? A sad sunbeam? A hurt sunbeam? Not as far as I know.
Can a sunbeam get stuck, be static, not shine? Interfere with or influence another sunbeam?
In fact, as shared at our testimony meeting today, doesn't each beam enhance the other?
I love that the opening "In the beginning..." of the book of Genesis - the first in the Old Testament, though not the first to have been written - is the story of being; of timelessness. In the Chapter Genesis of her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mrs. Eddy writes that "in the beginning...signif[ies] the only" (p. 502:25).
Light is a wonderful symbol for the timelessness and infinitude of the universe of Spirit, and to glimpse this is surely a sign of progress.
Julie Swannell
Tuesday, 22 May 2018
Jonah's manliness
Several writers point out the brevity of the book of Jonah. This however, by no means detracts from its value to the reader. Indeed, short stories can be powerful communicators because of their intense focus on a single idea rather than an unfolding argument or exposition.
Writing in The Christian Science Journal in January 1925, Anna Friendlich has written a marvellous article about this short book. It is called "The Awakening of Jonah" and may be located on jsh-online at https://journal.christianscience.com/issues/1925/1/42-10/the-awakening-of-jonah or at your local Christian Science Reading Room (if it holds back copies of the Journal).
The first arresting thought she presents is Jonah's "manliness", which, she suggests, is revealed by the "purifying and molding processes and changes which become operative in thought as the spiritual idea enters and unfolds into manifestation."
An indication of these processes and changes is evident when Jonah not only expresses remorse for his mistake in heading off to Tarshish instead of Nineveh and also honestly admits his error to his shipmates, but he also recognizes that disobedience has disrupted the peace on board and caused such harm. Friendlich comments insightfully:
"His [Jonah's] words are, "They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy." As Christian Science teaches, we are punished by our sins,--not for them,--since mortal mind shuts itself out from divine Love."
One might feel at this point weighed down, discouraged, disheartened, ashamed. But the story does not end there!
Our writer explains that while Jonah has already learned some great lessons, the greatest of them all is now to be learned - how to love, despite anger, disappointment, perplexity, weariness, confusion and impatience. He must repent.
While Friendlich neatly captures the barb and garb of resistance:
How often do mortals resist their spiritual promotions, because so often these promotions come garbed in an unlovely seeming!
she also points out the Jonah, like all of us, has a second chance to get it right - "to work his problem over again". He has everything he needs to learn and apply the lessons learned.
A great article. I recommend it.
Julie Swannell
Writing in The Christian Science Journal in January 1925, Anna Friendlich has written a marvellous article about this short book. It is called "The Awakening of Jonah" and may be located on jsh-online at https://journal.christianscience.com/issues/1925/1/42-10/the-awakening-of-jonah or at your local Christian Science Reading Room (if it holds back copies of the Journal).
The first arresting thought she presents is Jonah's "manliness", which, she suggests, is revealed by the "purifying and molding processes and changes which become operative in thought as the spiritual idea enters and unfolds into manifestation."
An indication of these processes and changes is evident when Jonah not only expresses remorse for his mistake in heading off to Tarshish instead of Nineveh and also honestly admits his error to his shipmates, but he also recognizes that disobedience has disrupted the peace on board and caused such harm. Friendlich comments insightfully:
"His [Jonah's] words are, "They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy." As Christian Science teaches, we are punished by our sins,--not for them,--since mortal mind shuts itself out from divine Love."
One might feel at this point weighed down, discouraged, disheartened, ashamed. But the story does not end there!
Our writer explains that while Jonah has already learned some great lessons, the greatest of them all is now to be learned - how to love, despite anger, disappointment, perplexity, weariness, confusion and impatience. He must repent.
While Friendlich neatly captures the barb and garb of resistance:
How often do mortals resist their spiritual promotions, because so often these promotions come garbed in an unlovely seeming!
she also points out the Jonah, like all of us, has a second chance to get it right - "to work his problem over again". He has everything he needs to learn and apply the lessons learned.
A great article. I recommend it.
Julie Swannell
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)