Lessons in Truth
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Lessons in Truth st for the 21 Century A Course of Twelve Lessons in Practical Christianity. an updated version of H. Emilie Cady’s classic edited & with an introduction by R. L. Miller, Ph.D. First edition, November, 1999 This ebook version Copyright ©2006 www.Self-Improvement-eBooks.com All Rights Reserved ClickzHere to visit our website 1 IN D E X IN T R O D U C T IO N L E S S O N O N E : S L A V E R Y O R F R E E D O M -- W H IC H ? O f H u m a n B o n d a g e C o m in g in to F re e d o m A n In s id e J o b H e irs to th e K in g d o m T h e In n e r L ife B e in g P e a c e F o llo w in g th e W a y L E S S O N T W O : S L A V E R Y O R F R E E D O M -- W H IC H ? T h e N a tu re o f S u b s ta n c e T h e N a tu re o f M a n k in d O u r R e la tio n to G o d L E S S O N T H R E E : T H IN K IN G U n d e rs ta n d in g M in d E x p e rie n c in g T ru th T h e P o w e r o f T h o u g h t F re e W ill F o c u s in g T h o u g h t R a d ia tin g F o u n ta in s O n ly W e B lo c k th e F lo w S u m m a ry L E S S O N F O U R : D E N Y IN G T H E P O W E R O F IL L U S IO N S F a ls e B e lie fs & C o n s e q u e n c e s C h a n g in g O u r B e lie fs 2 D e n ia ls fo r E rro r T h o u g h ts D e n y in g N e g a tiv e E x p e rie n c e C re a tin g O u r C irc u m s ta n c e s L E S S O N F IV E : A F F IR M A T IO N S : T O O L S F O R L IV IN G U n d e rs ta n d in g A ffirm a tio n s P ra c tic in g A ffirm a tio n s U s e fu l A ffirm a tio n s T h e P o w e r a t W o rk G u id e lin e s L E S S O N S IX : F A IT H --T H E M A S T E R K E Y B lin d F a ith ; U n d e rs ta n d in g F a ith S u p p ly & D e m a n d H e a rt’s D e s ire s --G o d ’s D e s ire s F u lfillin g D e s ire s L E S S O N S E V E N : P E R S O N A L IT Y A N D IN D IV ID U A L IT Y D e fin in g T e rm s D e v e lo p in g O n e o r th e O th e r D e a lin g w ith S tro n g P e rs o n a litie s L E S S O N E IG H T : S P IR IT U A L U N D E R S T A N D IN G J e s u s ’ T e a c h in g s T h e P o in t o f R e a liz a tio n P a rtia l R e v e la tio n a n d F u ll S e e k y e F irs t . S te p p in g S to n e s L E S S O N N IN E : T H E S E C R E T P L A C E O F T H E M O S T H IG H L o o k in g fo r T h e P la c e 3 N e ith e r B o o k s N o r T e a c h e rs M o re th a n W a itin g T ra n s fo rm in g E ffe c ts L E S S O N T E N : F IN D IN G T H E S E C R E T P L A C E O u r D e s ire is G o d ’s fo r U s G o in g to th e S o u rc e G u id e lin e s fo r W a itin g L e ttin g G o o f L im ita tio n s W a itin g a n d E x p e c tin g Y o u r O w n L o rd L E S S O N E L E V E N : S P IR IT U A L G IF T S M a n y G ifts Y o u r O w n G ifts F e a r N o t M o v in g B e y o n d L im ita tio n s T h e W a y a n d th e L ife L E S S O N T W E L V E :U N IT Y O F T H E S P IR IT B re a k D o w n th e W a lls N o N e e d to C o n v e rt O th e rs G o d is P rin c ip le and L o v in g P a re n t 4 INTRODUCTION In the early 1800s, a young clockmaker became interested in what was then called "mesmerism.” Phineas Parkhurst Quimby was a scientist by nature and, over the years, he experimented with various forms of “mind cure” until he hit upon a method that was virtually infallible. He called it “the Science of Christ.” Quimby practiced throughout New England until the late 1860s, and is documented as healing thousands of people of hundreds of conditions both in person and at a distance using only words and thought. Among his successes was Mary Baker Patterson, later to marry and take the name of Eddy. As part of her cure, she studied with Quimby and also with Ralph Waldo Emerson, who introduced her to the concept of Oversoul. Eddy went on to write The Science of Health with Key to the Scriptures and to found the Church of Christ, Scientist, now known as the Christian Scientists. One of Mrs. Eddy’s students, Emma Curtis Hopkins, became her assistant and edited the Christian Science Journal. She was a great reader, however, and began to have her own revelation experiences, which was contrary to Christian Science doctrine (which stated that Mrs. Eddy’s was the final revelation of Truth and Science and Health was the only source to use). It wasn’t long before Mrs. Hopkins was out on her own, teaching the principles and practice of Christian Science as an independent teacher, in Chicago. Her students paid the (then) phenomenal price of $50 for a seminar. It was worth it to them, though, for many experienced healings and prosperity as a result, and quite a few went on to found their own churches. Among Mrs. Hopkins’ students were Myrtle and Charles Fillmore, the founders of the Unity School of Practical Christianity, which operates Silent Unity and the Association of Unity Churches, and publishes Daily Word. Melinda Cramer was another, and went on to found, with Nona Brooks, the Church and College of Divine Science. Then, much later, Ernest Holmes, the founder of the Church of Religious Science (Science of Mind) studied with this “teacher of teachers.” Each of these people experienced their own healing and went on to teach thousands of others, and the organizations they built have touched millions of lives. Another of Mrs. Hopkins’ students was a former schoolteacher-turned-physician, Dr. Emilie Cady of New York City. After her studies, she had published a little booklet called Finding the Christ in Ourselves, which the Fillmores encountered. They asked her to write a series of clear, simple lessons for their Unity magazine, and, after some reluctance, she did.