In this
week’s blog we are to discuss the theological roots of Myrtle's methodologies
and explore her fundamental thoughts on healing.
I located
a very helpful tool to analyze the six functions of Myrtle’s theology in Dr.
Tom’s book Glimpses of Truth. It is my
belief that all of these methodologies apply to Myrtle. I see Myrtle had to
wrestle with the same demons we wrestle with today… Our personal biases,
beliefs and embedded theology. Myrtle
struggled to understand and grow in her own faith and when she learned and
discovered something that worked for her she began applying it in her
life.
Dr. Tom
references six functions of theology and they are:
1.
Ongoing
re-interpretation of faith. (Myrtle did this when she recognized the potential
to heal herself. What she had been doing
was no longer working and new thoughts and a rise in consciousness sparked
something in her.)
2.
Provide
critical analysis of religious ideas. (These were ideas Myrtle found to be of
use and those ideas, which Myrtle found to not be useful.)
3.
Integration
of religious ideas with everyday life. (Myrtle gained perspective and she began
applying Truth teachings to her everyday life; this included prayer, affirmations
and denials.)
4.
Establish
dialogue within the theological circle. (Myrtle did this when she engaged in
conversations with people like Emma Curtis Hopkins and Emilie Cady)
5.
Interpretation
of symbolism. (Myrtle translated her knowledge and experiences both on a
personal level and on a collective level as well.)
6.
Raise
new issues and suggest answers. (Myrtle surely did this. In studying Myrtle, I
have begun questioning variances on my embedded theology and I’m assuming
others in this class have been experiencing that as well. It appears Myrtle did her job as a theologian.)
It was as
though Myrtle had read Dr. Tom’s book or better yet… Dr. Tom recognized the
methodology he observed in Myrtles work.
So how
does all this relate to Myrtle’s thoughts on healing? In quick summary, Myrtle
took what she knew to be true and used it to grow in her understanding of
Truth. Myrtle then applied her new
understanding and put it into action. In torch-bearer to light the way, the
author tells us that after Myrtle healed herself others began to seek Myrtle
out for healings as well. A quote author Neal Vahle located in a letter Myrtle
wrote, sums things up well. “God knows how to work to relieve us and to heal
us, when our faith is centered within, and when we decide to accept and make
use of His help.” Myrtle believed that
healing happened not just in the physical body but also in the psychological
and spiritual realms as well. Myrtle
helped raise the consciousness levels so that they were attuned to harmonious
alignment with Truth. My guess is Myrtle
didn’t know what she was doing when she started doing healings for others but
she held firm to the Truth that worked for her and in doing that others
were also healed.
It should
be noted that although people sought Myrtle out for healing she expected them
to do work themselves. Myrtle encouraged
people to do their own work in aligning the spirit, body and soul. One quote Myrtle uses is found in Rom. 12:2)
“Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind” Myrtle tells us how to do this.
We are to pray and speak Truth. “To
speak Truth is a healing stream. Pure
reasoning is a healing stream; its strengthening flow makes all crooked places
straight. (HLG 45) Pure and simple!
Myrtle
did not believe that she had some magical powers to heal people and she said it
best with these words
God
is the health; God is the Spirit which stirs into righteous activity the power
of the soul and of the body, which results in what we know as health. We as separate persons, off here away from
you, do not claim to do the healing. It
is God in the midst of you which does the work. And the part we take in the
healing is an acknowledgement of the omnipresence—one presence everywhere, and
all—of God.
This is what
I believe sums up Myrtle’s thoughts on healing.
I’m sure there is more to uncover as we continue to study her work.
You said, "My guess is Myrtle didn’t know what she was doing when she started doing healings for others but she held firm to the Truth that worked for her and in doing that others were also healed." That is an interesting thought that had not occurred to me. I do remember reading (in which book, I'm not sure) that it sort of dawned on her along the way that there was no need to be in the presence of the person being healed for healing to occur. But I seem to recall that happened fairly early in her work. I'll have to give that more thought. Thanks for the post! -Doug
ReplyDeleteChristine ~ I agree with your summation. Myrtle most probably didn't know what she was doing when she healed herself or others. Yet she had an unshakeable faith in the power of healing, that healing was not only possible but destined to occur. I so admire her ability to do this. Just as we try new things and we succeed - we try them more! Success breeds success. When something worked, she repeated it. And she allowed herself to be open to the creative powers within her to imagine the wholeness of herself and others.
ReplyDeleteShe was firm in her belief - God is health. God is wholeness.
I appreciate how you included Myrtle's conviction that everyone has the power (and the responsibility) to do this for themselves and others. Nice post.
Christine, I liked how you pointed out that Myrtle expected people to do their work toward healing. It was not that she had greater powers than others. In Mrs. Fillmore's case it required several years of prayer and meditation-- and seeking forgiveness from the organis of her body for saying that they were sick.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post and the research you brought to it. But in terms of the "quad" model that Dr Tom presented us with, I wished you had said how your outlook applied to the "quad " model-- including reflection and experience.
Thanks,
Rick
Yes Rick, I realized after I wrote my lengthy commentary that I didn't wind thing's together fluently with the quad model. It's in there just not explained and broken down well.
ReplyDeleteMyrtle believed scripture was influential. Myrtle believed tradition was important as well but once she began to experience healing that could not be explained by what she was taught to believe she had to rely on her intellect and intuition to know what felt right to her. This is the summary of the quad method I didn't sum up as well as I should have. Thanks for pointing it out. :)
Thanks, Christine. I enjoyed the post and appreciated your depth of research but had the same question about the Quad. Your comment here certainly helps clear it up. I'm curious though what you mean that Myrtle believed scripture was "influential"--influential to others? to her own theology? Also, in what ways did she rely on intellect and intuition to know what felt right to her?
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post, Christine. You say, "Myrtle took what she knew to be true and used it to grow in her understanding of Truth." That indicates she did not have all the answers going in. What she did have was her truth and her faith. What a powerful combination! Its amazing that some thought her healing was somehow magical. She was quick to dispel that notion in her forthright manner. You summed it up well. Thanks.
ReplyDelete