Emotions
April 15, 1999
I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
Our chairperson for the evening started with how she sees the role of emotions in her practice of Christian Science. For her, Job's story was particularly relevant in its description of a journey from belief in God to a full blown understanding of His presence and power after severe emotional upheavals. Would Job have gotten there without these troubles and their working through? She also referred to the many healings she has heard of in church, in our group and in the periodicals turning on the solving of emotional conflicts. She feels the most blessed human state is one in which Spirit has swept through and infused the emotions with Its energy and joy.
A member then shared his psychological insights based on research he had done during the week. Most experts feel normal emotions are predictable, relevant and correct in personal reference. They are of short duration. Those emotions which are psychotic or neurotic are exaggerated, do not refer to the offending person and can go on for years. Emotional dullness in particular interested our member, for he has suffered from this in the past and even justified it with a belief in Christian Science. Once he was blown out of the water by some difficult love affairs, he could not go back to that feeling-less state and has been driven to study and practice a more real sense of Science. Thank God for emotions!
This same member pointed out that addictions often have their root in emotions improperly handled or released. Thus addictions to overeating, alcohol, drugs, sex, religious fanaticism, depression, paranoia and self-righteousness would shift and begin the process of chemicalization if the feelings were freed up. Another member said this is essentially the psychological view and wondered what Christian Science could offer here. Twelve-step people observed that addictions are always mortal, dualistic modes of worship. The solution is seeing the addiction as desire, the prayer that is always answered. Let the treatment rest there, not in the mortal judgmental realm.
Our psycho-oriented friend persisted with one more contribution. He offered two statements by Carl Jung from his book Mysterium Coniuntionis: "...passionate emotionality precedes recognition of unconscious contents," and, "Emotions without insight are essentially bestial."
Several members cautioned about the use of psychological methods in Christian Science. We can become mesmerized at that level and fail to carry through to absolute Truth. Perhaps as a tool it can be helpful in some cases but we must be willing to leave all for Christ — God as the only I, or Us — when and if the dawn suddenly breaks, and Truth is revealed.
A member recalled that when we looked at "Affection" a few months ago we found its Nineteenth Century meaning included emotions. So, the theses our chairperson expounded in her opening remarks are strongly in accord with Mrs. Eddy's writings about enriching and governing the affections or feeding the famished affections.
We discussed Mrs. Eddy's recommendation that her followers often check their thought and feeling tone to see whether they're drifting along with popular belief or reflecting the divine Mind. She calls this practice the anatomy of Christian Science which "teaches when and how to probe the self-inflicted wounds of selfishness, malice, envy, and hate," (Science and Health, pg. 462: 26-27). One member paraphrased an old-time practitioner who said we should not go on a wild goose chase for so-called causes but treat absolutely until such seeming cause just jumps out at us and then clear it off.
One member asked the others how they treat in Christian Science, with particular reference to feelings and emotions:
- One gave an example of a threatened Gay-bashing where he had no time to clear his fear — indeed it motivated him — but launched, with total conviction, absolute statements of Truth right there and then. His walking companion, also a Scientist, responded similarly and the offenders just went on their way, unharmed and unharming.
- Another said he often starts a treatment with the Christian Science Hymnal. Its simplicity and poetic vision calm thought and he then takes a yellow legal pad and lists the claims. These he then refutes with absolute Truth.
- Another described his debut on Broadway. He suddenly forgot all his lines and was filled with shame and self-loathing. He had no time to entertain these emotions however and just knew God was showing him what to say and do. His performance brought acclaim.
- Another found her companionship needs met very fully when she saw how detrimental it was to her well being to repeat in conversation and in her thought how lonely and lacking she was. Her true status of spiritual completeness opened to her and she found herself saying, "My needs are met." The next two days were filled with companionship of a satisfying nature.
- Another stated that, for him, healing through argument does not work. The important thing is the actual experience of God's presence. He feels the chapter on Prayer in the Christian Science textbook promotes this at-one-ment when it advises going within and holding audience with Deity. Martha Wilcox has, through her Association notes, become important to his practice. She says that healing takes place in the silence.
- Another read from the Kimball book referenced above, "You are not a victim of circumstances; you are the child of God." This is important in his work in Science. He also likes to take a synonym like Love and think of how wonderful it is that God, the all-powerful, is also the all-loving, perfect parent caring for him in every possible way.
- Another said he always starts by allaying fear. Then he repeats the Scientific Statement of Being from page 468 of the Textbook, Science and Health. It includes this: "All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all." He then waits for divine Mind to give him a healing thought or an indication of what to do. He also has the attitude that problems are the way we learn Science. He quoted this statement, "Sorrow has its reward. It never leaves us where it found us," (Science and Health, pg. 66:30).
- An unneighborly barking dog was causing one member endless discomfort. Another member suggested singing him one of our hymns. Others suggested working with pages like 511 to 515 in Science and Health where the spiritual import of animals is discerned.
- Another gave a harrowing account of abuse in childhood with its current results. There was a tendency with some to dive into this psychologically, but others went straight for the Science. Man is not born or raised and therefore has no results from what is merely a dream.
- Two members decided to launch a metaphysical committee to support the group.
- A friend of one member thought to call on him for treatment after he had an allergic reaction to some pine chips. He intuited that the problem was related to a failed love affair and resulting uncomfortable emotions. He did not call, but thought of some of the truths he has heard his friend state in Science. He particularly related to the idea of no separation between God and man. He was healed — "...before they call, I will answer," (Isaiah 65: 24).
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.
Physical sensation, not Soul, produces material ecstasy and emotion. If spiritual sense always guided men, there would grow out of ecstatic moments a higher experience and a better life with more devout self-abnegation and purity.
Give us this day our daily bread;
^Give us grace for to-day; feed the famished affections;^
The letter of Science plentifully reaches humanity to-day, but its spirit comes only in small degrees. The vital part, the heart and soul of Christian Science, is Love. Without this, the letter is but the dead body of Science,—pulseless, cold, inanimate.
The scientific unity which exists between God and man must be wrought out in life-practice, and God's will must be universally done.
Students of Christian Science, who start with its letter and think to succeed without the spirit, will either make shipwreck of their faith or be turned sadly awry. They must not only seek, but strive, to enter the narrow path of Life, for "wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat." Man walks in the direction towards which he looks, and where his treasure is, there will his heart be also. If our hopes and affections are spiritual, they come from above, not from beneath, and they bear as of old the fruits of the Spirit.
Anatomy, when conceived of spiritually, is mental self-knowledge, and consists in the dissection of thoughts to discover their quality, quantity, and origin. Are thoughts divine or human? That is the important question. This branch of study is indispensable to the excision of error. The anatomy of Christian Science teaches when and how to probe the self-inflicted wounds of selfishness, malice, envy, and hate.
Man understands spiritual existence in proportion as his treasures of Truth and Love are enlarged. Mortals must gravitate Godward, their affections and aims grow spiritual,—they must near the broader interpretations of being, and gain some proper sense of the infinite,—in order that sin and mortality may be put off.
This scientific sense of being, forsaking matter for Spirit, by no means suggests man's absorption into Deity and the loss of his identity, but confers upon man enlarged individuality, a wider sphere of thought and action, a more expansive love, a higher and more permanent peace.
Who that has felt the loss of human peace has not gained stronger desires for spiritual joy? The aspiration after heavenly good comes even before we discover what belongs to wisdom and Love. The loss of earthly hopes and pleasures brightens the ascending path of many a heart. The pains of sense quickly inform us that the pleasures of sense are mortal and that joy is spiritual.
The pains of sense are salutary, if they wrench away false pleasurable beliefs and transplant the affections from sense to Soul, where the creations of God are good, "rejoicing the heart." Such is the sword of Science, with which Truth decapitates error, materiality giving place to man's higher individuality and destiny.
Three times a day, I retire to seek the divine blessing on the sick and sorrowing, with my face toward the Jerusalem of Love and Truth, in silent prayer to the Father which "seeth in secret," and with childlike confidence that He will reward "openly." In the midst of depressing care and labor I turn constantly to divine Love for guidance, and find rest. It affords me great joy to be able to attest to the truth of Jesus' words. Love makes all burdens light, it giveth a peace that passeth understanding, and with "signs following." As to the peace, it is unutterable; as to "signs," behold the sick who are healed, the sorrowful who are made hopeful, and the sinful and ignorant who have become "wise unto salvation"!
A Rule for Motives and Acts. SECTION 1. Neither animosity nor mere personal attachment should impel the motives or acts of the members of The Mother Church. In Science, divine Love alone governs man; and a Christian Scientist reflects the sweet amenities of Love, in rebuking sin, in true brotherliness, charitableness, and forgiveness. The members of this Church should daily watch and pray to be delivered from all evil, from prophesying, judging, condemning, counseling, influencing or being influenced erroneously.
Daily Prayer. SECT. 4. It shall be the duty of every member of this Church to pray each day: "Thy kingdom come;" let the reign of divine Truth, Life, and Love be established in me, and rule out of me all sin; and may Thy Word enrich the affections of all mankind, and govern them!