Sunday, October 24, 2010

Enchanted, But Let's Hope Not Enchante

Every child receives over the years an education of some kind. The few and fortunate are those who grow up steeped in Christian Science. Many get the traditional pedagogy of school and home, some dehumanizing tutelage in various Dickensian Dotheboys Halls (Wackford Squeers, Prop.), while still others are abandoned to the messy hurly-burly of OJT in the ways of all flesh. Only the schoolroom of pure Christianity will lead assuredly to a happy ending.

Plato writes in "The Republic" (Jowett translation): "Everything that deceives may be said to enchant." I wonder if some apathetic souls among us are not betimes a trifle jaded with animal magnetism and even aggressive mental suggestion, seeing them as persistently cranky and irritating, stoically resigned to their presence as members of their mental families, but not opposing vigorously, as they should, these errors and their vile offspring with all the strength of Spirit they possess. Bruno Bettelheim makes some interesting points in the Introduction to his book "The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales": "If we hope to live not just from moment to moment, but in true consciousness of our existence, then our greatest need and most difficult achievement is to find meaning in our lives. It is well known how many have lost the will to live, and have stopped trying, because such meaning has evaded them." And further: "To find deeper meaning, one must become able to transcend the narrow confines of a self-centered existence and believe that one will make a significant contribution to life--if not right now, then at some future time. This feeling is necessary if a person is to be saatisfied with himself and what he is doing." And: "Since the child at very moment of his life is exposed to the society in which he lives, he will certainly learn to cope with its conditions, provided his inner resources permit him to do so. [new para.] Just because his life is often bewildering to him, the child needs even more to be given the chance to understand himself in this complex world with which he must learn to cope."

Obviously Bettelheim is approaching the human experience from a wholly material standpoint, one which has nothing in common with Christian Science and sees the enchantment of fairy tales as an aid in personal development, but knowing this does not free one from the influence of this generally accepted view of man. Bettelheim's Freudian psychology may be passe these days, but its replacement is just as materialistic and must be rejected if one is to demonstrate Christian Science. False education is an incubus which cannot be flicked off casually from a mental lapel like a speck of dirt.

Mary Baker Eddy writes in "Science and Health" (p. 62): "The entire education of children should be such as to form habits of obedience to the moral and spiritual law, with which the child can meet and master the belief in so-called physical laws, a belief which breeds disease." Many adults would also benefit from a rigorous re-education along those lines. Those who missed the opportunity and blessing of a thorough Christian education are certainly not comdemned to an eternal limbo, but it is going to require some serious scrubbing of mental abodes and the application of liberal doses of strong spiritual disinfectant to put things right. The echantments of mortal mind may seem harmless at times, even, well, enchanting, but they are never so and must be rooted out mercilessly and destroyed like the noxious weeds they are.

16 comments:

CS - West Coast said...

Don't know what "Enchante" means, but really enjoyed this excellent essay, Christian.

W. R. said...

A good, strong blog post, Christian. Metaphysically sound, something as a teacher in the Sunday School I can relate to.
Thanks.

Thanks from Arizona said...

Really like your latest offering. Well done, as usual.

Anonymous said...

Another good one. You've chosen an important topic, and you've done it justice, in my opinion.

Hartford, CT said...

No one can say it like our Leader. As a school teacher, I love the quotation you chose to put into this blog post.
Thank you for doing this,

Longtime viewer said...

One of the blessings of my life has been being brought up in a home where both parents were serious students of Christian Science and of course, taught us to lead Christian, moral lives. Nothing is more important than this for young children.

Dorothy (PA) said...

Yes indeed, "a thorough Christian education" is a must, and has never been needed more than today. How many children are living their lives without the solid foundation of Christian values. They may think this is not necessary at this time, but just wait. Life is going to show them sooner or later.

Anonymous said...

I agree that being raised in a sincere Christian Science home and being educated in a C.S. Sunday School are among the greatest blessings a child can have. However, accepting that a sincere seeker who has not had those blessings cannot advance and progress is to accept a taunt of animal magnetism. These Biblical verses come to mind:

Luk 4:25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;
Luk 4:26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, [a city] of Sidon, unto a woman [that was] a widow.

Regular reader said...

Of course, any young person can come to Christ's teachings and what CS reiterates of these at any point in their lives. Don't think that commenter was saying otherwise, just being thankful for their experience.

CS - Florida said...

Will someone please explain this blogger's title here (?)

LowlyWise said...

"Enchant" is English, "enchanté" is French, as in

"I glad to meet you."
"Enchanté, madame."

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the definition.

Thanks from the Midwest said...

Not my favorite topic, the education of children, but you've handled this well, I think.

William - D.C. said...

Always find your blog so interesting, and I tend to learn new things.
Thanks for taking your time to do this for us, blogger

Anonymous said...

This whole blog seems self-pretentious and arrogant as if the author is so proud he is not as other men. Our Leader states in the textbook of Christian Science on p. 288 "The eternal Truth destroys what mortals seem to have learned from error, and man's real existence as a child of God comes to light." It is not up to each of us to point out what is wrong with someone else unless we are asked privately to help them grow. Our eyes should be on the prize and the results of our prayers will be shown in our own lives. The highly critical standpoint of this blog uncovers the fact that the author seems unwilling and unable to see the child of God or properly identify those who are serving at headquarters in Boston as His dear children. If the blogger wishes our TMC activities were better, then perhaps one should take up that service and see firsthand the task to be done. Having done so myself with great idealism and enthusiasm as a young person, I soon realized that the humble souls occupying that holy place are the doorkeepers of His house indeed. Many worked their whole lives devoted completely to God every waking hour with unselfishness that I only dream of. After ten years, I returned to my own field of endeavor but the experience in Boston impressed a deep appreciation for anyone willing to give their all and join in that enterprise. People of every culture and geographic area come together in consensus to meet the needs of mankind. Our job is to support them and pray that God is always guiding them decision by decision. Our current Board is much loved and has earned the field's respect. Amen

Seeker of Truth in DE said...

Dismantling our Leader's work is neither loving nor deserving of respect, but that's what happens when you make mistakes, lie about them, violate the Manual and now, are working to replace the KJV and revise Science and Health. Statements to this effect have been made in Germany on more than one occasion and in more than one location. What's going on now is the careful preparation of the Field so they will not be shocked and erupt in an uproar when the new books are rolled out. And as for the previous commenter's assertions that it's not for us to point out mistakes, Mrs. Eddy made it quite clear that covering up error was not only unwise, but dangerous. This blog is well worth reading and even studying.