This
week’s assignment has us discussing our views on Myrtle’s theology as a result
of her beliefs on regeneration. What
does it mean to me and how does it affect the Unity Movement as a whole. What
does it look like moving into the 21st century?
On a scale
of 1-10 I believe my views on Myrtle’s theology changed by at least a 6 on an
increasing number scale. Why you
ask? Myrtle was right on the money in my
opinion when she accepted truth into her own mind. As such Myrtle was able to regenerate all the
cells of her being to cure her tuberculosis. Myrtle had a strong foundational
belief in a holistic connection.
We
have to make our whole connection, spirit, soul, body, the wholeness—the
holiness is in getting them all together—all working in harmony. But we are
forgetting this and seeing you connected all the way through and one with the
all-supplying stream of life and substance and power and love and light. HL 126
Myrtle
believed that regeneration was God’s activity and eternal Truth. Since we have the ability to get our thoughts
in alignment we have the ability to manifest the Truth not only in
consciousness but in the physical realm as well.
Manifesting
regeneration in the physical realm… Let’s talk about this. Myrtle was able to heal herself. Myrtle was able to teach others about the
Truths she learned herself and as such others too found they were able to heal
themselves when they practiced Truth in Christ Consciousness. I understand this
concept and I believe this to be true however
to a point… There is a something that
appears to be a little woo woo to me when Myrtle talks about transcending death
for regeneration. Without ever having
talked to anyone else about my ideas I’m just taking a stab in the dark here
but this is probably where other Unity Ministers and I too may draw the
line. Until regeneration of the whole
physical body can be proven I can’t accept this to be Truth. Myrtle chose to leave the physical realm and
did not even try to utilize the Truth she believed in. When I read about Myrtles transitional time I
have to say that I was disappointed to find that she seemingly changed her
ideas at the end. When Myrtle began to
tell people that she could work better from the other side well that seemed
like a cop out to me. We are taught in
Unity that we need to walk or walk and talk our talk. Maybe I missed something here but I don’t
think I am completely on board with or not understanding fully Myrtles concept
on regeneration.
The
concept of regeneration was a key factor in the beliefs held by the Fillmore’s.
There are some concerns one may have about regeneration especially in proving
to people that regeneration is possible.
People in general are skeptics and they will not believe things that cannot
be proven. Myrtle was healed and others could see and they believed. We in Unity cannot prove the body has the
ability to regenerate completely and transcend death. As a result, it should be of no surprise to
anyone that like most Unity Ministers I would probably choose to avoid this
subject. Myrtle’s beliefs have been
documented and I don’t agree with regeneration to point of transcending
death.
Hi Christine,
ReplyDeleteThere is, of course, no one right answer to this week's assignment. But let me add a somewhat different view from yours.
First, I very much admire how Myrtle made her transition and do not see it as a cop-out to the concept of regeneration. In fact, I do hope that when it is time for me to make my transition I do it with the grace and faith of Myrtle.
Second, this is Unity and not Christian Science. If a doctor told me I had "X" and I sought out BOTH spiritual and medical cures for "X" would I be in violation of Unity concepts? Of course not. Maybe seeking medical help is in violation of Mary Baker Eddie's teachings, but it is not in violation with Unity teachings. My wife, Debbie, is now cancer free, and we received help from both Myrtle's teachings and medical science.
The goal, as I think Myrtle saw it, was spiritual growth-- to fully realize the Christ within. There is no one road to accomplish this. Regeneration is one way, but so is reincarnation (and it doesn't always have to be on Planet Earth), and so is transition to a state and level of consciousness beyond our wildest dreams-- and this process might include being on "the other side."
Myrtle in her words and actions showed us the many different roads that can lead to spiritual growth. Oliver Wendel Holmes said that "for every problem there is a solution that is neat, simple, and wrong." I am glad that Myrtle did not have a theology of "one size fits all." Her theology was more in the realm of Sly and the Family Stone (i.e., "different strokes for different folks.")
She also believed that we will all make it in the end-- some by taking I-70 and others by taking I-20, and still others will make it only after taking the New Jersey Turnpike :)))
In terms of total regeneration, I am not willing to say that it could never happen. I mean growing up in America, I didn't think I would ever see a black President. But I do think I have seen partial regeneration. My spiritual mentor is in her 80s and she is still driving her car cross country to give talks in Unity churches. I mean how fantastic is that! And I want some of that!
Thanks for your post. I enjoy reading your blog and always gain from it. And I am glad for our different approaches.
Blessings,
Rick
Christine - I understand where you are coming from in regards to the difference between spiritual and physical regeneration. I whole-heartedly believe that we humans can live full, healthy, vibrant lives...just not forever. (And that does not even beg the question, if we could - would we WANT to?) Every living being appears to have a "time limit", so to speak, which can be extended somewhat by the best living conditions. Butterflies live from a few days to a few months, depending on the variety. A mouse might live 4 years. Horses can live to 25-30 years, although some might live much longer, 50-60 years. And then there are humans.
ReplyDeleteThe term regeneration, to me, indicates a full renewal, a replacement of parts with newly vitalized, youthful cells. Perhaps that is possible, but I haven't seen it.
Can we heal? Of course we can and we do! Can we regenerate spiritually? I believe so. Can we regenerate physically? No, not so much. But I find it entirely intriguing that Myrtle did believe in this concept, at least for a time. We don't know the dates of her letters or her talks, so we don't know when she so passionately believed in regeneration. And like all maturing processes, beliefs change.
I appreciate your questioning post, Christine.
Christine, I'm loving this discussion! Thanks for stirring things up! If we set aside consciousness in the way a materialist might do, I couldn't by into physical regeneration. However, I'm not a materialist. I believe consciousness is the source of physical life, not the other way around. So I conclude that physical regeneration might be possible. I don't think it has to be provable in order to accept the possibility. After all, reincarnation is broadly accepted but who can prove it? Myrtle, it seems to me, believed in regeneration up to at least a few months before she made her transition. At first, I thought she must have changed her mind at the very end. Now, after these two weeks of study and contemplation, I no longer think that. As I said in my blog for this week, I think Myrtle's true view of physical regeneration was different from how it is thought to be among some Unity ministers. I think she was always thinking in terms of physical regeneration as being a spiritual plane experience. Yes, that statement might seem to be odd but remember, she used Jesus as her example, saying “… the body in which Jesus now lives, and into which we shall all enter …” She also said, "It is all a matter of mind." If we take her meaning literally, I think she's saying we can enter a regenerated physical state that exists in mind. I can't imagine what that might look like but I find it fascinating to think about. Thanks for the post! -Doug
ReplyDeleteChristine. Enjoyable post. The topic of regeneration is certainly controversial. I certainly have not been able to embrace the concept of regeneration and my belief in reincarnation still stands. You say "I was disappointed to find that she seemingly changed her ideas at the end." You saw this as a cop out. I have to agree with Rick. I don't see it like that at all. I saw it as an honest and practical approach; Myrtle lived her Truth and, in the final analysis that is all that matters.
ReplyDeleteChristine-
ReplyDeleteI am also trying to understand regeneration more clearly. But I think I agree with Rick in that regeneration is a spiritual experience that affects the physical and not the other way around. With spiritual growth there can be no destination beyond union with Source. And this is why healing should not be confused with curing. In the same way, death of the body ought not to been seen as spiritual failure of some kind. I don’t think Myrtle ‘changed’ her views. Rather, she committed her mind and body to a spiritual experience that she completely believed. Like Rick, I hope I have that same grace and conviction when it’s my time to take that one way trip to the spiritual realm.
Blessings,
Lesley