Probably hundreds of millions of the world's people have in their homes a small nook containing an image or images of deities or beings they worship or pray to. One would like to think that in more "advanced" countries there had been enlightened progress beyond this more material form of worship, but has not traditional idolatry often been merely exchanged for more up-to-date and more inimical ones? In the U.S., and doubtless elsewhere, one sees frequently on the news someone sitting blissfully before a vast array of pill-bottles with an expression of awe befitting an epiphany and with an attitude of reverence he may never have felt for even his loving Father-Mother God.
The ongoing health-care debate in the U.S. has highlighted the extent to which health care and drugs are aggressively asserting a pervasive, all-consuming influence on the lives of most Americans. Medical treatment and drugs (legal and illegal) have become a thoroughly mesmeric miasma permeating the mental atmosphere of all. Unless vigorously exposed and sedulously resisted by loyal Christian Scientists, this evil influence can and will endanger anyone. It is even undermining the alreadly precarious financial stability of the U.S.
In Revelation, St. John mentions sorcerers and sorcery. The Greek word translated as sorcerer in the KJV is pharmakeus or pharmakos, and the word translated as sorcery is pharmakeia. Pharmakeus means an enchanter with drugs (Dummelow says, on what basis I cannot determine, literally "poisoner") and pharmakeia enchantment with drugs. The English cognates of these Greek words should be obvious, and St. John's prophecy and warning should be a command for alacritous metaphysical action for any true Christian Scientist. This is certainly one insidious and malignant assault on man's health and well-being that cannot simply be ignored or given pause until a more convenient time.
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24 comments:
A splendid entry. Right on the mark, blogger, and such a necessary topic for all serious CS's to give thought to.
Thanks!
Very learned, metaphysically sound, and well expressed. A most helpful blog post, having the Christian Science take on all the media health care reports (here in the US, that is.)
Yes siree, I knew it--you're a CSB. How right you are that for our own well-being as students of divine Science, we need to be awake and praying as never before.
Thanks for an excellent reminder.
Thank you for doing this. So timely and important and not to indulge in politics, but we just can't let Obama turn us into a socialist country. Christian Scientists need to be awake and praying. I am doing my best, and your outstanding entry will help people step up to the plate I'm sure.
Terrific title, and a very well written blog post.
Thanks for taking your time to do this for your readers out here,
I think this is a brilliant piece, so scholarly and well presented to your public. You leave no doubt this is a most serious issue and deserves our best thinking.
((So timely and important and not to indulge in politics, but we just can't let Obama turn us into a socialist country.))
It's hard to avoid indulging in politics when we have the CSM writing about politics in its pages. There is nothing wrong with that, unless of course, the editorial slant is more politically biased than it is honest. Mrs. Eddy did speak about dishonesty forfeiting spiritual power. Is it just my imagination, or does the CSM wholly support Obama and his excellent adventure?
Thank you for sharing your learned research into the words sorcery and sorcerer. That was a real eye opener.
Thank you for taking up this subject.
Having just discovered your blog today, and reviewing some past entries, I feel the need to share these thoughts that apply both to this post and to your post of Wednesday, April 29, 2009: “They went to sea in a Sieve, they did.”
This post was mainly about the Gillian Gill biography of Mrs. Eddy, but it ties to the current discussion on health care also. First, I wanted to recommend to those who feel the negative impact of the Gill book, the Stephen Gottschalk biography, "Rolling Away the Stone." The sub-title is: "Mary Baker Eddy's Challenge to Materialism."
Whatever the Gill book lacks the Gottschalk book provides. I have tried several times to read the Gill book, but I keep coming to such grossly materialistic misinterpretations of Eddy that I just can't continue. It is not presenting Mrs. Eddy in a materialistic light that will create interest in her in the thought of the general public. But such erudition as Gottschalk exhibits will touch the searching heart with the truth of our Leader's discovery and gift to mankind, and that will draw the thirsty to the waters of divine Science, where they may drink of living waters such as Jesus offered the Samaritan woman at the well.
As you have noted, the sincere Christian Scientist needs to wake up to the evil influences in government today that would impose a tyrannical health care system upon all Americans, and to handle the false beliefs underlying this effort. Mrs. Eddy was not too spiritual, nor her writing too scientific, for her to present the Science of Being to the world in specific and healing terms. I see no reason to dilute the potency of Truth in these days when materia medica and liberal socialism would try to inflict upon us all governmental control of our health care systems. Nothing less than Science itself can thwart the evil intent of those who would inflict upon us the further drugging of society without even a choice to refuse it.
One other thought, (going back to comments concerning your entry on the Gill book) to those who deem Mrs. Eddy a radical feminist. I have to disagree, if by feminist one means the Leftist, pro-choice, radical movement that denies everything true womanhood consists of. Mrs. Eddy wrote that "Woman is the highest species of man, and this word is the generic term for all women.... This is the precious redemption of soul, as mortal sense, through Christ's immortal sense of Truth, which presents Truth's spiritual idea, man and woman." Unity of Good, pp 51-52. Mrs. Eddy’s feminist bent was to present the womanhood of God in its highest sense, the highest species of (generic) man. There was nothing in Mrs. Eddy's sense of womanhood to relate to what is known in America today as the "feminist movement."
The Gottschalk book is published by Indiana University Press, 2006, and can be purchased at Amazon.com.
Presently,--Anonymous
((...who deem Mrs. Eddy a radical feminist))
I think Gill, not Mrs. Eddy, was deemed as the radical feminist.
I'd like to be able to say you have some competition among CS bloggers, but I can't.
You're the best!
I like your blog, and the comments are good, too. Can't help thinking of something the Discoverer and Founder of our religion points out that drugs/medicine, in belief, poisons the human system. We're sure seeing evidence of this, aren't we?
I do like a lively blog and you've certainly got one. Had to nod my head at the scene of someone staring reverently at a multitude of pill bottles. Have a neighbor who takes 14 a day. How he finds time I do not know.
Timely topic.
When you're hot, you're hot. Someone recommended your blog, and I find it's worth my time to read. A treat to see someone who not only thinks clearly, but is able to write very well.
I want to join in this discussion, and say don't know what I'd do without Christian Science and the healing help it gives me and my family. To be able to live without being doped up with pills is such a blessing, and am continually grateful to God for inspiring Mary Baker Eddy to give us the healing method Jesus employed.
This is just one man's opinion, of course, but the reason I think God is blessing your blog so widely is that you care more about pleasing Him than kow-towing to earthly officials.
I pray many more Christian Scientists will take your lead and think for themselves!
Let me echo what a previous commenter has expressed and that is God empowering your blog. I have no doubt that His hand is upon you.
You are blessing far and wide, dear blogger.
Very well done, good research you did. Thank you for posting for the edification of your readers.
This is one outstanding blog post, and I know it will give solid help and incentive to many of your readers.
I thank you for working it up and posting it.
An excellent message and so very well executed. Always enjoy getting to read your little essays.
You are a blessing to the CS Field, there is no doubt.
A friend here in France said I should check out your blog. Just did, and find it well worth looking at again.
You write very well, and this topic, for us Christian Scientists, is all important.
I thank you, blogger.
Let me congratulate you on an excellent blog. Considerably more intelligent than others I've found on CS, and the comments are above average as well. (Thought that one from Presently anonymous quite well done.)
All the best to you,
Dear Author of this Blog,
If I knew who you were and how to reach you by email or phone, would say this: God be thanked that you are doing what you are doing!
You are holding the banner high.
I am very impressed with the posts I've read, and intend to go back further. You were recommended by someone I respect, and so glad I discovered you!
Well done, indeed.
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