Being attentive to my surroundings is definitely something I've been emphasizing more in my life.  And I've noticed friends and neighbors are also making it a point to be eco-conscious, so to speak.  Some tell me they're using less electricity around the house, some are choosing to bike to work instead of drive, others are helping to care for plants and animals — all out of the sincere desire to be more mindful of the world around us.

Yet, news of looming challenges are wake-up calls of sorts that more participation is needed.  Forest degradation, contamination of shorelines, and excessive pollution of the atmosphere are a few that make headlines.  Unfortunately, these challenges can often seem too distant or remote to encourage much action on our part — that is, until their effects begin to be felt closer to home, even on our health and way of life.  In my view, though, that’s not soon enough to start making earnest efforts to address these problems.

So how might we begin?

Let’s take pollution, for example.  It doesn’t just spring up out of nowhere.  In a very real sense, it’s generated from the personal habits and thought patterns of individuals.  So, as I see it, the most effective way to combat the pollution of our environment is to start with our own thinking.

We might ask ourselves, What are some elements in thought that give rise to a polluted environment?  Greed might come to mind.  Self-indulgence, materialism, wastefulness are others.  These negative tendencies have expressed themselves in various forms over the years, whether in the behavior of individual citizens, corporate practices, government policies, and so on.

The good news is, each of us — no matter our location or background — can start counteracting these destructive influences right here and now.  We can begin, for instance, by expressing more love, more wisdom, and more compassion towards others and our surroundings.  From my perspective, this can have an immediate and long-term healing effect, not just in our own lives and in the lives of others, but also in our environment.

This transformation of thought is summed up by the Golden Rule.

During our day-to-day activities, we could be asking — Are my actions showing more love and consideration towards my neighbor?  Does my behavior respect my surroundings?

I’ve witnessed firsthand the practicality of asking these questions when I’ve included them in my everyday decisions.  They’ve helped me, for instance, to put a higher priority on recycling, on using all-natural products, even driving less so as not to waste fuel or expend it unnecessarily.  And I’ve found that by taking basic steps like these, I’m actually embracing my surroundings in my thinking — and this leads to making better decisions across the board when it comes to promoting and safeguarding a cleaner environment.

Observing the Golden Rule can go a long way to curb the ecological challenges we’re facing, whether they seem distant or closer to home.  And if we practice this rule consistently, I expect a wider life pattern will begin to emerge that will lead to the regeneration and healing of our environment.

It's definitely something each of us can participate in, and each of us deserves!

“The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”  (Psalm 24:1)

A report published this month in the American Sociological Review claims a correlation exists between going to church and having less faith in science.  The study is called, “Politicization of Science in the Public Sphere: A Study of Public Trust in the United States, 1974 to 2010.”  It says, among other things, that “public trust in science has not declined since the 1970s except among conservatives and those who frequently attend church.” (read more)

I admit, I don't find this report all that persuasive — but as one who spends plenty of time in the pews, I did end up asking, Do my religious views shape the attitudes I have toward science?

On the whole, I say they do — and in a way I think is rather positive.

Like many, I take both religion and science seriously.  They’ve contributed immensely to my well-being and obviously to the common good.  In basic terms, I expect we all can agree religious thought comprises the cornerstone of ethics, morality, and law — resulting in greater stability and progress in society; while the sciences enhance our daily lives in terms of industry, communication, transportation, and so on.

Still, disputes and skepticism often arise among proponents of each discipline, especially when it comes to notions about the origin and nature of the world and of life itself.  The so-called Big Bang theory, evolution, stem cell research, and so forth come to mind.  But in a broader sense, can religion and the sciences become mutually supportive?

I feel they can, if we consider more closely the direction of our thinking within each discipline.

Christian Science, for instance, has helped me time and again to see the world and life in less mechanistic and materialistic terms and in more of a mental and spiritual context.  Mary Baker Eddy, the Founder of Christian Science, likens this shift of perspective to a chemical change.  She writes:

“As when an acid and alkali meet and bring out a third quality, so mental and moral chemistry changes the material base of thought, giving more spirituality to consciousness and causing it to depend less on material evidence.” (read more)

And I’ve noticed this tendency to depend less on material evidence is occurring to some degree even within the corridors of modern scientific thought.  A few natural scientists, for example, have theorized about the mental nature of matter and have deduced that the world of ordinary perception (what’s observable, measurable, and physical to you and me) is more or less a world of effects, — hinting at an unseen mental cause underlying it all.

In my view, Christian Science acknowledges the vast potential of the natural sciences in forwarding this line of reasoning.  Mrs. Eddy remarks:

“Through astronomy, natural history, chemistry, music, mathematics, thought passes naturally from effect back to cause.

Academics of the right sort are requisite.  Observation, invention, study, and original thought are expansive and should promote the growth of mortal mind out of itself, out of all that is mortal.” (read more)

I wouldn’t be surprised if one day it will be found that religion and the sciences can indeed cooperate in a way that lifts thought out of materialism and the limitations it imposes, and ultimately leads to a clearer mental and spiritual perception of our world and of existence.

Then, religion and science will be considered more like friends, rather than foes.

“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made.” (Romans 1:20)

The report’s lead author is quoted as follows:

We reviewed eight different types of studies.  And the general conclusion from each type of study is that your subjective well-being — that is, feeling positive about your life, not stressed out, not depressed — contributes to both longevity and better health among healthy populations.” (read more)

It’s an interesting report, and yet its basic point seems so simple.  So it got me asking a couple of questions — If happiness is such a benefit to health and longevity, why do so many folks seem to struggle in finding it?  Is there a clear sense of what happiness really is and what it can offer?

No doubt, these questions aren’t always easy to answer.  After all, happiness can be very individual.  What you and I might enjoy experiencing in our lives, others might not like at all.  And things that happen in life which might challenge our present state of happiness, might seem completely insignificant or trivial to people next to us, and vice versa.

One's happiness can even seem to be affected on a day-to-day basis.  For example, individuals might feel joy, spontaneity, and inspiration on day one; but on day two they might feel “burned out,” almost like they’ve reached the end of their rope.  Then on day three, they're back on top again.  Are these ups-and-downs inevitable?  Or do we have a choice when it comes to attaining and securing our happiness?

One thing I’ve learned in Christian Science is that to gain a true sense of happiness and health, there’s a need to grow spiritually.  This includes accepting that our present health and well-being don’t have to be contingent on the actions of others, even though at times they might seem to.  And when we encounter negativity during our day, we can take active steps to expel it from our thinking.

A roadmap of sorts that I've found helpful in expelling negativity and gaining more of a spiritual outlook is found in the Beatitudes.  In fact, some are surprised to learn the word beatitude actually means “felicity of the highest kind” and “a state of utmost bliss.”  Each beatitude begins with “Blessed . . .” — and as I discovered recently from a fellow church member, blessed in the original Greek of the New Testament means “fully satisfied.”

Try reading the Beatitudes with this new perspective of being “fully satisfied,” and see if this doesn’t make a difference in how you view the nature of happiness — and the nature of health.  Because if we can gain a clearer sense of what each is and what each offers, they'll likely be experienced with greater consistency and greater permanence in our lives!

“Soul has infinite resources with which to bless mankind, and happiness would be more readily attained and would be more secure in our keeping, if sought in Soul.” (Science and Health 60:29-31)

If you’re not familiar with the term “placebo,” here’s a basic description —

Placebos are sugar pills which doctors give to test subjects to measure the effectiveness of a drug they’re studying.  Some subjects receive the actual drug in pill form, while others are given a placebo.  The drug’s effectiveness is then measured by the different results arising from the use of the different pills.  When a subject who’s been given a placebo experiences improvement or results similar to what's expected of the drug, it’s commonly called the “placebo effect.”

Today, I’ve noticed there’s increasing attention within the health care community when it comes to the role the placebo effect has in uncovering the mental nature of health and the effect one’s thinking can have on the quality of one’s health care.  Research indicates, for example, when a patient places faith in a particular treatment and believes the treatment will do something beneficial for him — and this faith is supported by the care and attention of an attending physician — the patient can experience positive health outcomes, even when the medicine that’s supposed to effectuate the positive results is absent.

Following the 60 Minutes segment, I enjoyed reading an article about this report by Syndicated Health Blogger Keith Wommack.  Keith is a friend and colleague from Texas who writes frequently about spirituality, health, and similar topics.  Here are a few things he has to say in his article, “60 Minutes – Explosive – What mind can do to affect health,” and how this new research ties in with the method of spiritual care offered by Christian Science:

“. . . Is this report ‘explosive?’  Yes, because 17 million Americans take antidepressants.  It puts a billion dollar pharmaceutical industry under a microscope.

And, yes, as well, because the report is quite thought provoking for those in the scientific community who have never before recognized the broad impact the mind has on physical health.  However, it is not so explosive for those who already had indications of this phenomenon. . . .

. . . A pioneer in the mind/health connection in the late 1800s, Mary Baker Eddy, confronted these questions.  Her final analysis, many feel, was also quite explosive.

. . . Eddy, years ago, experimented with differing healing methods, including homeopathy and the use of placebos.  During her research, she discovered that as medications were diluted by attenuation, patients’ improvements increased.  She recognized that the drug had no intrinsic power of its own.  The human mind was empowering the medication. Eddy’s and Kirsch’s findings seem to be similar on this point.

Yet, Eddy’s research went further.  She felt there was something missing.  And she felt that she uncovered the missing key during her own struggle with a serious physical challenge. She realized that the human mind could do marvelous things.  However, she also felt it was the cause of most pain and disease.  The real cure she said was in the spirit or mind of God (Christ) that Jesus utilized.  She discovered during her own healing that both the human mind and body are subordinate to this divine mind.

While putting into practice what she learned, Eddy became known as a Christian and mental healer.  Cures of acute, chronic, and organic disease as well as functional difficulties were documented.  She taught others to heal.  She then began calling her wholly mental and spiritual system of healing Christian Science. . . .”

These are highlights from Keith’s article.  If you’d like to read it in its entirety, you can find the article on his blog at Healthy Th(ink)ing or with other media outlets.

If you enjoyed this article, you might also like the audio chat, “Let spirituality — not stimulants — renew your strength.”

For example, a recent Pew Research Center survey titled, “Rising Share of Americans See Conflict Between Rich and Poor,” finds the increase in poverty in the United States — and the apparent inability of government policies to curb it — is leading to what many are calling an impending class conflict.

The survey finds, among other things, that 66% of Americans believe there are either “strong” or “very strong” conflicts between rich and poor.  That’s up 19 percentage points from 2009.  And, specifically, 30% feel there are “very strong conflicts” — double the proportion in 2009 and the largest percentage holding this viewpoint since the question was first asked back in 1987.

Without question, society has grappled long and hard to alleviate the economic challenges that face large numbers of people.  Yet, when I look at the support structures in place today, it seems like more services are in operation now than ever before, — services to help feed the hungry, cure the sick, lessen poverty, and offer opportunities for education, to name a few.  Still, many acknowledge this help is only temporary at best, and poverty and economic hardship continue.

But what if support services incorporated a spiritual element in their work — an element that focuses on help and improvement not so much from a material standpoint as a mental and spiritual one?

Mary Baker Eddy, the Founder of Christian Science, writes:

“Spiritual causation is the one question to be considered, for more than all others spiritual causation relates to human progress.”  (read more)

While the discouragement of the protesters is understandable, I feel what’s needed today by citizens, politicians, and businesses alike is less emphasis on materialism and financial gain, and greater emphasis on honesty, wisdom, and mutual support.  In the biography, Twelve Years with Mary Baker Eddy, the author quotes Mrs. Eddy as saying:

“A life or a nation is saved, in proporation to the predominance within of purity, patriotism, and other right motives.”

Public services offering spiritual support can help instill these and similar values and thus uplift society as a whole.  And I think this would help bridge the so-called economic divide and ease concerns of class conflict.

If you like these ideas, you might also enjoy the Christian Science article, “No losers in the divine economy.”

“We must face the fact that in America, the church is still the most segregated major institution in America.  At 11:00 on Sunday morning when we stand and sing [that] Christ has no east or west, we stand at the most segregated hour in this nation.” (read more)

Dr. King offered these remarks nearly half a century ago.  And as we observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day, they lead to a timely question, — namely, How far have we come today in experiencing greater diversity in church?

A 2010 study in Sociological Inquiry is quite revealing.  It’s called “Race, Diversity, and Membership Duration in Religious Congregations,” and it finds there hasn’t been the increase in church diversity that one might expect.  In fact, according to the study, nine out of ten congregations in the United States have a single racial group that accounts for more than 80% of members. 

One of the study’s authors explains:

“Socially, we’ve become much more integrated in schools, the military and businesses. But in the places where we worship, segregation still seems to be the norm. . . . People choose churches where they feel comfortable.  Maybe they get challenged there, but they’re going for the comfort. . . . It doesn't matter whether you’re a white member of a Latino church or a black attending a white church or what the specific groups are.  If you’re the under-represented group, do you call it ‘my church’?  That feeling of ‘us’ is the key.” (read more)

Interestingly, the study finds that churches which enjoy diverse congregations share certain characteristics, such as having a diverse church leadership, a racially inclusive worship, and opportunities for membership interaction.

The topic of diversity in churches caught my attention recently when I learned January 13 – January 19 is officially “Church Diversity Week” in our state.  Church Diversity Week is a local preacher’s inspiration for encouraging and promoting unity and diversity within congregations.  (For more, see Saturday’s Oklahoman article, “Oklahoma City preacher to turn focus on church diversity.”)

In thinking about the need for and value of diversity in churches, I’ve been giving more consideration to what St. Paul says about unity in diversity in his First Epistle to the Corinthians.  He writes, “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit,” and describes these gifts as wisdom and knowledge, faith and trustworthiness, healing and preaching, and so forth.  (read more)

When these spiritual qualities formed the basis of diversity in the early Christian church, the young church attracted a wide variety of members, including Jews, Gentiles, and Greeks.  For me, this offers an important lesson for today.  As modern churches reflect on how to encourage and retain diverse congregations, perhaps centering the focus first on the “spiritual gifts” mentioned in the Bible will help usher in a greater diversity of race, ethnicity, and so on, and thereby foster a genuine feeling of comfort — "that feeling of us" — in the pews.

“And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” (I Corinthians 12:28)