Global Religious Science Ministries

New Thought
Part of a series of articles on
Beliefs Affirmative prayer Creative visualization Divinity Higher consciousness Glossary of New Thought terms History of New Thought Huna Law of Attraction Metaphysics New Thought beliefs New Thought literature Omnipresence Positive thinking Prosperity theology
Movement Denominations Divine Science Jewish Science Religious Science Seicho-no-Ie Unity Churches Affiliated New Thought Network Agape International Spiritual Center Centers for Spiritual Living Church of the Truth International New Thought Alliance Universal Foundation for Better Living Schools Emerson Theological Institute Unity Village, Missouri Other groups Affiliated New Thought Network Association for Global New Thought Home of Truth International Divine Science Association International New Thought Alliance League for the Larger Life New Civilization Church The Infinite Way
People List of New Thought writers Historical William Walker Atkinson Nona L. Brooks H. Emilie Cady Dale Carnegie Robert Collier Malinda Cramer Julius Dresser Horatio Dresser Henry Drummond Mary Baker Eddy Warren Felt Evans Charles Fillmore Myrtle Fillmore Perry Joseph Green Charles F. Haanel Frank Channing Haddock Napoleon Hill Emmet Fox Ernest Holmes Fenwicke Holmes Emma Curtis Hopkins Christian D. Larson Phineas Parkhurst Quimby Elizabeth Towne Ralph Waldo Trine Three Initiates Thomas Troward Wallace Wattles Lilian Whiting Ella Wheeler Wilcox Modern Michael Beckwith Kate Atkinson Boehme Rhonda Byrne Terry Cole-Whittaker Wayne Dyer Matthew Fox James Dillet Freeman Thaddeus Golas Joel S. Goldsmith Stuart Grayson Louise Hay Esther Hicks Jerry Hicks Jean Houston Byron Katie A. K. Mozumdar Caroline Myss Earl Nightingale Catherine Ponder Della Reese Florence Scovel Shinn Samuel Smiles Masaharu Taniguchi Eckhart Tolle Iyanla Vanzant Neale Donald Walsch Stuart Wilde Gary Zukav
Related ideas Christian Science Efficacy of prayer Freedom of religion in the United States Idealism Mind–body problem Placebo effect Subjective idealism
Categories New Thought Beliefs Churches Literature Schools Other groups
Religion portal

Global Religious Science Ministries, or GRSM, is an organization representing the Religious Science denomination in the New Thought movement. Centers and churches in the United States, Canada, Central America, South America, Africa, Europe, India, Australia, and the Philippines are represented by the organization.^[1] It is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

History

Dr. Robert Karle founded the Center for Creative Living and seminary in the Washington, D.C. area in 1977. In 1986 he started Global Religious Science Ministries for the purpose of credentialing Practitioners and Ministers of Religious Science/Science of Mind in the eastern United States, and specifically in the Washington, D.C. area. GRSM is a member of the International New Thought Alliance.^[2]

Teaching and practice

RS/SOM teaches that all beings are expressions of and part of Infinite Intelligence, also known as Spirit, Christ Consciousness, or God. It teaches that, because God is all there is in the universe (not just present in Heaven, or in assigned deities, as believed by traditional teachings), Its power can be used by all humans to the extent that they recognize and align themselves with Its presence. Ernest Holmes said "God is not ... a person, but a Universal Presence ... already in our own soul, already operating through our own consciousness.”

The Introduction to "The Science of Mind" text describes "The Thing Itself" (God or Infinite Intelligence), "The Way It Works," "What It Does," and "How to Use It." Holmes taught that "Love rules through Law." (i.e. the Law of Mind or Cause and Effect) and "Love points the way and Law makes the way possible." The "Law of Cause and Effect" simply states that every action has a consequence — creative, destructive, or neutral. It can be described as Jesus Christ implied and what was also stated in parts of the Old Testament: you reap what you sow, the bread you cast upon the water comes back to you, and other expressions of that concept. The Law of Attraction is one aspect of that Law. It differs from the Hindu definition of karma in that it is not related to reincarnation and that it happens in this life. Personal responsibility is a major tenet of RS/SOM.

RS/SOM teaches that people can achieve more fulfilling lives through the practice called Spiritual Mind Treatment (Treatment), or Affirmative Prayer. Spiritual Mind Treatment is a step-by-step process, in which one states the desired outcome as if it has already happened. In that way, it differs from traditional prayer, since it does not ask an entity separate from itself to act. It declares human partnership with Infinite Intelligence to achieve success. Treatment is to be stated as personal (first person), positive, powerful (with feeling), and present (is happening right now). The goal is to gain clarity in thinking that guides action to be consistent with the desired outcome. The Treatment is believed to set off a new chain of causation in Mind that leads one to act according to the good for which one is treating. Spiritual Mind Treatment, as currently taught in RS/SOM centers, contains five steps: Recognition, Unification, Realization, Thanksgiving, and Release. Some adherents of RS/SOM also use supplemental meditation techniques, including "Visioning"