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The healing effect of true self-knowledge
It’s tough to overstate the role self-knowledge plays in our lives. There’s lots to say about it, but I’ve found something in Mary Baker Eddy’s writings especially interesting.
In her striking article “The Way,” found in Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, Mrs. Eddy writes about what it takes to grow in our understanding and practice of Christian Science: “This absolute demonstration of Science must be revived. To consummate this desideratum, mortal mind must pass through three stages of growth” (p. 355). She goes on to name and describe these three stages in detail: self-knowledge, humility, and love. Let’s take that first stage and really dive in.
In my practice of Christian Science, I’ve sometimes been tempted to think that the requirement to have self-knowledge is a barb of strong encouragement that I must pass along to another—something like, “If you’d just be more self-aware, then we’d be able to move past this.” But I’ve been learning that Mrs. Eddy’s wise counsel is not something designed for me to throw at other people in hopes that they’ll shape up. I have to follow this counsel myself!
Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.
June 10, 2019 issue
View Issue-
From the readers
Katherine Ball, Billie Leafgreen, Robert Sibley
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The healing effect of true self-knowledge
John Biggs
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How do we know what is real?
Paul Trowbridge
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A Father we can all count on
Cathrine Hogg
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Praying for our adult children— a joyful endeavor
Blythe Evans
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Answering the call from hungering hearts—wherever we are
Samuela Orth-Moore
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We helped with our church’s Christian Science lecture!
Sandrina, Beatrice, MacArthur, Harrison, Hazel, Sandy
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Turning to prayer first
Emily Holden
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Alcoholism healed
Sharon Dec
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A family’s blessings
Virginia Pennington
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Healing of foot pain
Cathryn Maycock Rathsam
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'The crude creations of mortal thought ...'
Photograph by Karen Goodspeed Hertlein
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A solid basis for emotional well-being
Larissa Snorek