Not a creed. Science of Mind contains neither dogma nor decree. It encompasses no system of sin and punishment, no rule of conduct, no profession of faith. Instead, Science of Mind sets forth a simple opportunity, one that offers no contradiction to either reason or common sense. Any person, by deliberately applying the basic principle of cause and effect known as Universal Mind, can determine the conditions of his or her life.

Not a cult. Because Universal Mind represents an objective principle rather than a guru or a deity, it cannot dispense favoritism or judgment. Science of Mind and its benefits are accessible to all on equal terms- without ritual, investment, or formal affiliation. Interested seekers have nothing to confess, promise, renounce, or hand over.

The source of Science of Mind.

The heart of every religion. All faiths include the workings of an Unseen - variously called Mind, Spirit, First Cause, Being, or God. The 19th-century New Thought movement, shaped by Ralph Waldo Emerson and others, considered this force an indwelling presence, instrumental in physical and spiritual healing. Such ideas stirred the thought of Ernest Holmes (1887-1960). While refining the philosophy he called Science of Mind, Holmes gave lectures, held study groups, and eventually helped establish the Institute of Religious Science in 1927.

Open-ended truth. Ernest Holmes did not claim that he had found the ultimate answers to life's questions. "This is my revelation- not yours," he emphasized. "It must always remain open at the top for new insights." With even the most rudimentary understanding of Mind, any person can use thought to solve day-to-day problems. And from that point, spiritual awareness can expand indefinitely.

The power of thought.

A natural principle. All of us share unlimited access to Mind, the infinite curative power of the universe. That power- a natural Law - can operate only through our own minds' obedient to our expectations, it manifests exactly as we think and believe. Do we desire to change any condition? "Give the Law new instructions," wrote Ernest Holmes. Through affirming and accepting the innate excellence of any circumstance, we can channel this generative energy. Our individual welfare rests neither in our luck nor in our hands - but in our minds.
A pathway to well-being. Science of mind involves affirmation rather than denial. Disease, for example, is a fact; we need not deny its existence. As Ernest Holmes wrote in The Science of Mind, however, "Disease is not a truth." The truths within Infinite Intelligence include health, abundance, security, love, peace, and happiness - all of which make up our natural state. Anyone, by claiming those truths and acting confidently on them, can bring them into manifestation.

The Science of Mind movement.

Individual progress. To practice Science of Mind, one need not join an organization, subscribe to a series of lesson, or forsake any other spiritual path. An interested person may visit a Religious Science church, or not; may prefer group meetings, or private study. Those with immediate problems or questions may call the World Ministry of Prayer, our 24-hour phone line (213-385-0209 or 800-421-9600), and talk with a Science of Mind practitioner trained in affirmative prayer.

The literature. Science of Mind, our monthly magazine, contains articles, daily meditations- also available in Braille-and the United Church of Religious Science directory. Besides Ernest Holmes' substantial textbook, The Science of Mind, our publishing house stocks a wide range of books and cassettes related to Religious Science.

The church. Although Ernest Holmes never intended to establish a church, many people who attended his lectures sought the continuity and fellowship of weekly Science of Mind gatherings. Today, the United Church of Religious Science lists affiliate churches and study groups in 40 states and more than 16 countries. Because each church interprets the Science of Mind philosophy in its own way, church services may differ in procedure and approach.

The discovery. As much as we can accept, that much we can have. The door stands open. For more information, go to www.religiousscience.org

Shorn of dogmatism, freed from superstition, and always ready for greater illumination, Religious Science offers the student of life the best the world has discovered.