We are an organization/community/Center that teaches and practices the principles of Science of Mind (also known as Religious Science). Science of Mind is a teaching, and a philosophy, and a way of life. The founder – Ernest Holmes – studied all major western and eastern religions and faith traditions, and combined them with insights from philosophy, psychology, and science. It’s one of the three teachings under the larger New Thought umbrella, that includes Unity as well. We believe in values such as Oneness, Understanding, Wholeness, Service, and Peace.

Anyone looking for like-hearted, –souled, and -minded people exploring personal and collective spiritual growth may have just found their new spiritual home! At our Center for Spiritual Living Graham, NC we provide spiritual tools that offer possibilities to transform our personal life while simultaneously making the world a better place for all of us.

We are a spiritual community that honors all ways of seeking the Divine. We use a multitude of practical ways to experience a greater awareness of our personal relationship with the Universal Essence. When our main focus is on our spirituality, other areas of our lives fall into place – we are more joy-filled, deeply aware of an amazing State of Grace, and from that awareness, we do more for others, are better stewards of the Earth, and increase peace and harmony in the world and beyond.

We offer classes and workshops. On Sundays we have a 20 minute meditation that starts at 10:30, and then we have our Sunday Celebration Service, that starts at 11:00am. You can find more on our Facebook page and on our Meetup page! Just search for “Center for Spiritual Living Graham” when you are in Facebook or in Meetup.

Whether someone is in search of a spiritual community where we are all honored and accepted for the unique Divine Gifts we are, or desiring inspiration and support to grow from the highest potential and to serve our world from that space; whether someone is seeking answers, with a willingness to delay instant solutions to receive greater spiritual input and guidance, or not – anyone is welcome to ‘check us out’ in person!

“What is SOM?”

Science of Mind now known as Center for Spiritual Living (CSL) expresses a correlation between philosophy, many faith traditions and religious beliefs, psychology, and science (such as quantum physics). It is a teaching that is open at the top because our founder Ernest Holmes believed – like we do – in the continuous evolution of human consciousness. It is a very practical philosophy/religion and often called a ‘way of life’.

Science of Mind is a spiritual teaching and way of life based on the inspirations of Dr. Ernest Holmes and his book, The Science of Mind. Science of Mind exists to facilitate the reawakening of each individual’s awareness of the higher Self, enabling all who desire to discover and know the ultimate mate Oneness of Universal Life to do so. While sometimes mistaken for Scientology or Christian Science because of name similarities, we are neither. The teachings offered in Science of Mind are not in opposition to any religious belief or philosophy. Rather, they seek to bring to light the thread of Truth that exists in all spiritual teachings. (FROM: Dennis Merritt Jones. How to Speak Science of Mind: A Seeker’s Guide to the Basic Concepts and Terms That Define this Practical Spiritual Lifestyle).

“What We Believe“

We believe there is One Divine All That Is that goes by many names. This One Spirit is closer and more personal than our breath AND transcends everything.

We believe It is unlimited potential, infinite, and everywhere present, and that all of It is everywhere present at once. This Divine Source is all knowing, all powerful, and unchanging.

We believe It expresses in and as us, and in and as everything that ever was, is, and will be.

We believe this Universal Power works through the Universal Law of Spirit. This Creative Mind receives a direct impress of our thoughts, and acts upon it always, saying ‘Yes!’ without reservation.

We believe there is only One Life; this Life is God’s Life; this Life is Perfect; this Life is our Life now!”

We believe there is One Life, this Life is Divine Life, this Life is Perfect, and this Life is our Life now!

“Global Vision”

• We envision all people, all beings, and all life as expressions of God.
• We envision a world in which each and every person lives in alignment with his/her highest spiritual principle, emphasizing unity with God and connection with each other; a world in which individually and collectively we are called to a higher state of consciousness and action.
• We envision humanity awakening to its spiritual magnificence and discovering the creative power of thought; a world where each and every person discovers his/her own personal power and ability to create an individual life that works within a world that works for everyone.
• We envision a world in which we live and grow as One Global Family that respects and honors the interconnectedness of all life; a world where this kinship with all life prospers and connects through the guidance of spiritual wisdom and experience.
• We envision a world where personal responsibility joins with social conscience in every area of the political, corporate, academic, and social sectors, providing sustainable structures to further the emerging global consciousness.
• We envision a world where each and every person has enough food, a home and a sense of belonging; a world of peace and harmony, enfranchisement and justice.
• We envision a world in which resources are valued, cared for, and grown, and where there is generous and continuous sharing of these resources.
• We envision a worldwide culture in which forgiveness (whether for errors, injustices, or debts) is the norm.
• We envision a world which has renewed its emphasis on beauty, nature, and love through the resurgence of creativity, art, and aesthetics.
• We envision a world that works for everyone and for all of creation.

“FAQs”

 All these questions and answers are taken from the book “How to Speak Science of Mind: A Seeker’s Guide to the Basic Concepts and Terms That Define this Practical Spiritual Lifestyle” by Dennis Merritt Jones.

A. Do we believe in God?
Yes.

B. Do we use affirmations? What purpose do they serve?
In The Science of Mind, Ernest Holmes states, “To affirm anything is to state that it is so, and to maintain this as being true in the face of all evidence to the contrary.” In the practice of Spiritual Mind Treatment, also known as Affirmative Prayer, affirmations are used to build a consciousness of receptivity and expectation of good. When we use positive affirmations such as, “The perfect health and vitality of God flow through my entire being,” we are stating a fact we know is true, even if appearances may not support that statement, we know it is the truth because we know we are one with God. Stating affirmations is a good practice; however, it is important that we also embody the feeling behind the words we use.

C. Do we believe in Heaven? Do we believe in Hell?
Heaven is an inner state of happiness (joy, deep state of grace, bliss). We do not consider it a place located “up there” with pearly gates and streets of gold at which we shall one day arrive by a certain code of behavior. Because Heaven is a state of being and a state of mind, and not a location, it may be experienced in the present moment. Being within, the Kingdom of Heaven can be fully experienced when we consciously unify with and as the presence of God at the center of our very being, every day through meditation, mindfulness, awareness of our thoughts. Every thought we have that helps us heal a sense of separation from God can bring us closer to a Heavenly state of being. Likewise, Hell too is a state of mind, based on our awareness lack of awareness of the presence of God within us. Hell is also not a location with fiery pits. It is a discordant state of being, where our thinking leads us to believe we are separate from God. It is founded in a belief of duality, or a believe in two powers. Many people are filled with negative thoughts, and therefore experience a ‘living hell’ every day…

D. Do we practice atonement in Science of Mind?
In traditional theology atonement is the doctrine concerning the reconciliation of God and humankind. We do not believe that God could be or would be separate from us because we are always one with God. However, there may be times we may need to reconcile ourselves with God because we have wrongly believed that we are separate from God. Metaphysically, when we practice atonement we are affirming our “at-one-ment” with God. Atonement happens when we heal any sense of apartness from God-when when we return to our original awareness of our unity with the Divine Whole.

E. Do we use the Bible? Do we take it literally?
Ernest Holmes, the author of The Science of Mind, was greatly influenced by the Bible and it is a cornerstone of his teachings. However, he made it clear that it is important to understand the metaphysical meaning of the Bible and that not all of it can be taken literally. The Bible was written 2,000 to 3,000 years ago by the Semitic people, for the Semitic people. The Bible is a valuable able and valid source of Truth when read and understood according to the authors’ consciousness and heritage. Truth is Truth, and the Bible must be read with an open mind, looking for the higher meaning in the stories, metaphors, and parables. To fully understand the Bible, one must understand idioms and the psychology used by the men who wrote the book. Yes, God did write the Bible, through the consciousness of human beings; therefore, we must understand humankind to understand the book.
F. Was Jesus the Christ?
It’s important to understand that Christ was not Jesus’ last name; it is a title that acknowledges the fact that he fully understood and demonstrated his divine nature and his oneness with God. The word “Christ” comes from the Greek word Christos, which means, “anointed” or “enlightened one”. In The Science of Mind, Ernest Holmes states, “Christ is a universal idea, and each one `puts on the Christ’ to the degree that he surrenders a limited sense of life to the Divine Realization of wholeness and unity with Good, Spirit, God”.

G. Do we consider ourselves Christians?
A “Christian” by definition is one who: 1. Believes in Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and Savior; and, 2. Follows his teachings. In the traditional sense, we do not consider ourselves Christian because we do not claim the man Jesus as our “Lord and Savior”. However, we do believe in his teachings upon which the Science of Mind textbook is largely based. We believe that the teacher Jesus came to show us each the way of the Christ. [see Christ] Therefore, it is up to all individuals to analyze their own life to decide if they are “Christian” or not. The message of the Christ is unconditional love, nonjudgment, forgiveness, brotherhood, peace and oneness with God. Perhaps true Christianity is more of a lifestyle than it is any one particular religion.

H. Are we a cult?
According to the dictionary, a cult is a group that studies a system of religious worship in admiration of, or devotion to, a person or thing. In the teachings of Science of Mind we worship no one, nor any thing. To do so would be idolatry. We believe we need no one to intercede between ourselves and God. Unlike some teachings that have begun to teach the worship of the messenger instead of teaching the message, Science of Mind is the furthest thing from being a cult. Our teaching is universal, “in the open,” and places no one above or below ourselves. We believe God is available to one and all equally.

I. Do we believe in death?
The divine principle of Life is an eternally unfolding, upward-spiraling movement. The spirit of God is the spirit of life, and it is both birthless and deathless. The principle of life cannot know death. Life itself cannot be destroyed, only the form it occupies can be altered. In The Science of Mind, Ernest Holmes states, “The human experience of dying is but the laying off of an old garment and the donning of a new one.”

J. Do we believe in predestination?
Our destiny is that which we decree by what we think and embody today, producing our reality tomorrow. Our destiny is the perfect out-picturing of our individualized use of the Law of Cause and Effect.

K. Do we believe in a devil? To believe in a devil would be to believe in duality or, in other words, to believe that there could be God as well as some opposing power. There is not a power for good and a power for evil; there is only one power and it is God. However, there are people who misuse their power. The devil is not a person, but an idea based in hellish thinking.

L. Is evil a reality? Is there an evil power?
Just as we believe there is no devil, we believe there is no evil power. However, there are people who misuse the power they have. Some people use their power in evil ways.

M. Are we part of the New Age movement?
Science of Mind (or Religious Science) is part of the New Thought Movement, rather than the New Age movement. There is nothing new about the principles we study and strive to apply in our daily lives. As New Thought, Science of Mind teaches the age-old wisdom of many of the world’s great religions in a new and contemporary format. This wisdom always leads us back to the fact that our connection to God can only be found within. Therefore, we feel no need to use any “tool” outside of our own consciousness to experience total wholeness, peace of mind, and a dynamic equilibrium in our lives. We do not feel the need to turn to aids or entities outside of our own innate intelligence for divine guidance or advice. Science of Mind exists to help people discover their own true inner power, rather than to give it away to outside ‘tools’. We believe that God is the only true power. It is First Cause, and is found within each individual, not in the outer world.

N. Do we pray in our teaching?
In Religious Science we communicate in thought and speech with God through a process called Spiritual Mind Treatment (SMT), or affirmative prayer. We believe God has already given us, by our divine birthright, all that we will ever need to live a complete, healthy, whole, and prosperous life; our only job is to accept it. The communication always takes place within our own consciousness and mind. SMT is a logical process used to change our consciousness or belief system. Treatment acknowledges to God Mind that what we are treating for already exists and is ours. We refrain from asking, begging, or supplication, and instead use only acceptance of this Truth. We firmly believe that it is done unto us as we believe!