Thursday, March 4, 2010

Silent Sirens Hidden In Dark Places

Error sometimes makes its felonious overtures and suggestions with the blatant obviousness of the Three Stooges. The sinister insinuation of evil into consciousness, however, can be devilishly difficult to detect, especially if such suggestions are administered discretely in carefully measured doses by a skilled and depraved mental malpractitioner--and they do exist. Not all tiptoeing thru the tulips is the childish Tiny Tim variety. There are now and have always been institutions and individuals who hate Christian Science and Christian Scientists and work to destroy both, quietly and inobtrusively over the humdrum landscape of years and decades if necessary. To induce in the unaware and unwary even modest mental perturbation or spiritual precession will almost certainly accomplish far more harm than a sharp conk after an acrobatic tumble down the basement stairs.

It is wise to remember that the serpent is subtle, subliminal. A bold rush at the mental gates would, or should, produce a quick and, one hopes, effective defense and repulsion. The hugger-mugger corruption of a human mind over years can be far more effectual. The unwitting victim awakes one fine morning, like Gregor Samsa, utterly surprised to find himself a giant, disgusting beetle. A new planet was discovered fairly recently. Named Eris, it is about twice the size of and well over twice as far from the sun, about 9 billion miles, as Pluto. The effect of the sun's gravity at that enormous distance must be almost incalculably small, but it must be there to keep Eris in its vast orbit. Should we then doubt or dismiss foolishly the possible influence of invisible and silent malicious animal magnetism or aggressive mental suggestion?

For over a century almost imperceptible etiolation, deflection, and ennui has arguably settled like a miasma over the Church and thousands of its members, to the extent that often the good that should be done isn't, but the wrong that should not be done is--or the Scientist simply goes "a fishing". He should rather take comfort in an assurance that he is never a helpless victim of animal magnetism, error, or any mortal belief, but there is no simple step he can take to get on a "do not call" list for the devil's incessant callings. As Christ Jesus and Mrs. Eddy have taught us, the Christian Scientist must uncover and tread each temptation, whether bold or subtle, down. And down and down yet again until he is forever victorious over all malign influences.

Note: I do not wish to take credit for generosity which isn't. There is no charge for setting up a blog on the Blogger site. Anyone can do so for nothing. Hard to believe, but true.
Also, I very seldom visit the blog between postings, which means I do not read comments on the previous entry until I have posted the current one. This should at least partially explain my delay in responding, assuming I have something meaningful to say.

21 comments:

Thanks from CA said...

Another very well written essay. I found much of help and I appreciate your efforts.

Thank you! said...

As a long time practitioner, I can tell you you've touched upon a very important issue here, and I hope many will read this blog post.

L. R. said...

Aren't we eternally grateful to our Leader for tackling the topic you bring up, and for giving us all we need to put it down as nothing!

Dorothy (PA) said...

Think of what Mrs. Eddy brings out in that slender chapter, "Animal Magnetism Denounced" where she speaks of such as "to sense an unreal concept of the so-called mortal mind." Think I have this right, but anyway, what a breakthrough for me when I read this.

E. J. said...

Good job, blogger!

Anonymous said...

Speaking of Christ Jesus, does he not assure his followers that they have been given all power over all the power of the enemy?

New England somewhere said...

Really like this one, from the arresting title (as yours always are) all the way through.
Thanks!

London (UK) said...

Quite uplifting to me, and I can't help thinking to other of your many readers across the globe.
Well done, Christian.

Phoenix, AZ said...

"...what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch."

Christ Jesus

Best from Germany said...

I said in an earlier comment that I would like to post a testimony on your website, and here I am. I am so grateful for the truths I've learned through my study of Christian Science and not long ago, when I was feeling rather ill, and praying about this, happened to recall a statement from my review of the testimonies in the back of "Science and Health" where the one healed pointed out that all action is in divine Mind, God. This came strongly to my thought and brought inspiration. It wasn't long at all until the physical difficulty disappeared. I hope others who may read your blog will investigate this wonderful religion if they haven't already done so.

Hartford, CT said...

Hi there,
I think this is particularly well thought out and expressed, and I appreciate all you are doing to enlighten your readers as to important issues.

Faithful viewer said...

I've noticed people like to use your space to express their opinions and I wonder why more CS's don't get their own blog? But then, I guess I could except I feel there wouldn't be enough for me to say. And I certainly don't write as well as you. So, will just keep reading yours, which is one of my very favorites on the planet.

Carole said...

Not only do I get a spiritual uplift from many of your blog postings, but I'm learning new things. Especially words I've never seen.
Appreciate you, blogger....

Anon, like you said...

May I say that the way you commented on comments you receive was quite adroitly handled!

Experienced CS said...

A most interesting topic you've touched upon in this blog post. Who among us will not agree that there are agencies silently at work to interfere with our great Cause. However, sometimes we have the same thing to meet from those within our own ranks. Might as well say it, since any mature CS knows this is true. But, God be thanked, evil under whatever flag it is flown, has no power--provided we thoroughly understand God has it all.

Newport Beach, CA said...

Always enjoy your website. It's so fresh with things that have not been said a thousand times.
Keep it going,

Susan said...

Love this blog post, especially the way you start it off with that title. Draws the reader right in for more.

Anonymous said...

This blog post has a lot in it for me to think about, and I'm glad you are blogging. We need more like you out here.

Appreciation (NH) said...

So glad decided to start a blog, and use your considerable abilities for Christ Jesus and divine Science.
I enjoy your essays.

Denver, CO said...

Dear Christian,
I've gotten so much help from reading your blog posts over the months and what I'm especially grateful for this afternoon is your mentioning some early writers that have presented CS strongly. I have discovered Samuel Greenwood from reading room articles and I can't tell you how much he is helping me! So, thank you so much.

LowlyWise said...

Wasn't Gregor Samsa turned into a cockroach, not a beetle? Even more disgusting! Thanks for using this image, which I at least would just as soon forget, to point up a subtlety we'd all just as soon forget--or maybe, alas, have already forgotten.