A member requested the topic Universality last week in order to explore some ideas put forth in a book Christian Science—Nonsectarian, by W. Gordon Brown. After we read directly from the Bible and the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, our member read us some passages from Dr. Brown's book. He states, "Christian Science is universal spiritual understanding," based on his reading of passages familiar to our group and its friends (e. g., Miscellaneous Writings, p. 60: 28-6 and Science and Health, p. 573: 3-12). He shows how Christ Jesus' work was basically to translate his world and universe from the belief of matter back to its primal — and real — Spirit.

Others in the group had conducted their own exploration of the subject and came up with these conclusions:

1) What Mrs. Eddy discovered was no less than the ultimate Science, even grander than Einstein's hoped-for unified field theory (which seeks to unify the physical sciences alone). She saw Christian Science as the Truth underlying all the sciences as well as theology and medicine. These branches of human knowledge portray on a material, dual basis the true facts of being, which can be accessed via Christian Science.

Our members went further, to include any human thought and action, whether positive or negative, as the substance and activity of God (or man) filtered through mortal concepts.

2) Mrs. Eddy thought the churches and other institutions would flock to the truths expressed in Christian Science. They did not and she felt it necessary to found a church and curative practice to nurture and protect her discovery.

Our members felt this was a good choice at the time, but it had its costs. They wondered whether the identification of Science today with a denomination wasn't a detriment to its destiny as a boon to mankind. Even aside from the sheer embarrassment of the word "Christian" in this age of extremism, many will not look at it because of its cultic wrappings.

Having seen and expounded on a broadened vision of Christian Science, we were initially boggled at how to get the Science to the public. The wide availability of Science and Health seems a good idea, as does the increased awareness of its more absolute teachings embodied in books like the one we were dealing with and say, Christian Science Association addresses. Groups like our own, which encourage individuals to dig deep, may be of assistance. The bottom line however is individual practice of Christian Science in one's every day, even every moment, life for one's self and all others.

By this point in the meeting most members were raring to describe healings and do some work on outstanding issues in light of our expanded appreciation of Christian Science. Here's what came up:

1) A member was very angry with his apartment building's management over their arrogance in some dealings with him. He was feeling out of control and asked us for help. Another member, using some of the ideas we'd developed earlier, saw the whole thing as a mortal depiction of an impersonal divine idea; we needed to surrender to the latter — the overwhelming perfection of being — and live it. The anger and its so called cause would fade out. The suffering member did calm down and was able to participate in the meeting more fully.

2) Another member described the failure of a customer to keep an appointment. He was disappointed and angry, but quickly realized he could not afford to let this fester. He was able to rout the bad feelings with Science and see the divinity of all concerned. Later he had an appointment with an insurance provider and this went wonderfully well.

3) Another member described his attempts to be Mr. Nice Guy with business associates. Things went increasingly askew. Finally he woke up to the fact that he was living a belief in two conflicting realities. He was able to see himself and the others as controlled by one Mind, as divine ideas. Harmony quickly prevailed; appropriate meetings were arranged and apologies given. He now sees his attempts at placating and supporting others as merely human activities which must be under girded with scientific fact or they will lead to problems. Margaret Laird is fond of quoting her teacher, Bicknell Young: "Don't become so conscientious that you become unconscious!"

4) Another member described how he periodically falls into emotional turmoil with a cousin. Could we suggest anything? Others had similar situations with family members and friends. One member alerted us to the common ancestry in the family situations and the strong likelihood that buried explosive motifs from that heritage are ever ready to erupt into the present. With friends, the same principle applies — unresolved, unconscious stuff will do us in if we don't see the belief and its scientific solution. The solution is always an impersonal idea — such as, God and man are one harmonious being. This is our background and foreground — the all in all of everyone and everything. But this needs to be lived, not just said.

5) Another member described his dog's healing of hiccups. Thinking it was a heart problem, our member phoned a practitioner who said, "There is only one heart and we all share it." He also consulted with a veterinarian who could add nothing, but the problem quickly ended.

This got us to an interesting point about body. We saw it as presence, power and knowledge. We could assign it to material dualism or live it as God's presence, power and knowledge (see our readings, Miscellany, p. 275, as a support for this position.)

6) Our use of Gay and Lesbian together with Christian Science has been questioned by internet friends. Basically, it's a matter of convenience alone, like our geographic designation as New York City. We felt that if we or anyone is for or against our name, the real issue is something psychological handling us or them; it's a nice barometer as to how much matter, how much error we're letting in. We say this not to condemn but to encourage ourselves and others to grow. Of course the solution is always in Christian Science, in living the eternality and infinity of God-man.

Our topic for next week is Celebration in recognition of the Gay Pride activities in New York and around the world. We want to explore the concept of celebration in Science and some related issues like: is that a march or a parade on Fifth Avenue; is it too soon to celebrate; what is the divine idea behind Dionysus and Apollo?