THE ELEPHANT, ACCORDING TO SIX BLIND MEN

Once upon a time, six blind men lived in a village in India. One day, they heard that there was an elephant in the village. Having no idea what an elephant was, they decided to go and feel it. The first man touched the elephant's leg and said, "Hey, the elephant is like a tree trunk!" "Oh no, it's like a rope!", declared the second, who grasped its tail. The third man happened to take the elephant's squirming trunk in his hands and spoke, "I see that the elephant is like a snake." The next man felt the tusk and cried, "This wonder of an elephant is very like a spear!" One man happened to fall against the elephant's broad side and declared, "The elephant is like a wall." And the sixth man, touching the ears, said, "Even the blindest man can see that this elephant is like a fan." And so they argued on and on about who was right, until a wise man came along and explained to them, "You are all wrong, because each of you touched a different part of the elephant...and yet you are all right, since the elephant is very like all those things you said." And so they were all happy that they were right! The moral of the story is that there may be some Truth to what everyone thinks; sometimes we cannot see it because we view from a different perspective. The ancient teaching of Jainism explains that Truth can be stated in seven different ways, which suggests that we be more tolerant of each other's points of view and live in harmony with those who think differently. We come together at our Center for Spiritual Living, not to expound upon a doctrine or dogma that attempts to explain all that God is, but to experience the Presence and Power of God at work in our lives, recognizing that all we will ever know of God is what we personally experience of It. As Ernest Holmes says in The Science of Mind, "No man has ever plumbed the depths of either the conscious or subconscious life.........we reach out to Infinity, and since we cannot encompass Infinity, we shall always be enlarging our capacity to know and to experience."

At the Center For Spiritual Living, we believe that the quest for understanding is never ending, and that the joy is in the journey. You're invited to join us and grow with us.

Namaste, Rev. Jay

Who is the founder of Religious Science International?

Dr. Ernest Holmes

Dr. Ernest Holmes founded the spiritual movement that has evolved into Religious Science International. Born in 1887 on a small Maine farm, Dr. Holmes spent much of his teenage years out-of-doors, asking himself “What is God? Who am I? Why am I here?” His seminal book published in 1926, The Science of Mind, is now in its 45th printing. Dr. Holmes’s Science of Mind teachings are recognized today as one of the leading, foundational viewpoints in modern New Thought. It offers a positive, visionary approach to daily living.

What is International Centers for Spiritual Living?

International Centers for Spiritual Living is an organization of over 200 spiritual communities that provide spiritual tools to transform our personal lives and make the world a better place.

International Centers for Spiritual Living, formerly Religious Science International, spiritual communities teach and practice powerful principles for personal and global transformation. They promote a way of life that honors all paths to God and help people experience a personal relationship with God in a community of acceptance, understanding and respect. Through classes, programs, prayer and meditation, International Centers for Spiritual Livingmember Centers provide a safe spiritual community of like-minded people, all interested in living a spiritual life.

About Religious Science

The terms "Religious Science" and "Science of Mind" are used interchangeably by the Religious Science community. The most frequent questions we hear are "Is this Scientology"? or "Is it Christian Science"? It is neither. Are we a Christian teaching--do we believe in Jesus? We believe that Jesus was one of the greatest metaphysicians to have ever lived. We believe in everything that we think he said. We do not believe everything that has been said about him! He strived to teach us all that, just as there was The Christ within him--there is The Christ within each of us; our higher, spiritual self. The Science of Mind is a practical, sensible, intelligent way of being in touch with that higher self.

What is the Science of Mind?
By Ernest Holmes

The Science of Mind is an outgrowth of the spiritual faith which people have had throughout the ages. Before science was conceived, the Presence of God was felt. Before ever mental actions or reactions were analyzed, history was filled with instances of men and women who had experienced God.

The Science of Mind is comparatively new, but the mental experience of the invisible universe is as old as the history of man. It is new in that for the first time in history we have put together all findings which contribute to the establishment of man's relationship with the universe, to the end that he may be able to apply his spiritual understanding to the everyday problems of human life.

The Science of Mind is intensely practical because it teaches us how to use the Mind Principle for definite purposes, such as helping those who are sick, impoverished, or unhappy. Each one of us can learn to become a practitioner of this science, a demonstrator of its principle, a conscious user of its power. Power already exists, but the existence of power is of no particular value to us until we use it. We must not only be conscious of power, but we must be actively conscious of it. This is one of the first lessons we learn in the Science of Mind. 

Our Minister

Reverend Jay Robbins has been a student of New Thought for many years. He studied extensively with Dr. Kennedy Schultz, Founder of the Atlanta Church of Religious Science, and is ordained as a Minister and Practitioner of Religious Science by Religious Science International, now International Centers for Spiritual Living.

He has been a popular speaker over the past several years at many New Thought chuches and centers in the Southeast, and joined us as our Pastor after having served with distinction on the ministerial team at Trinity Church of Religious Science in Decatur for nearly three years.

Rev. Jay brings with him as our Pastor an extensive background in corporate management, training, teaching and counseling, as well as his dedication to Truth. He has the gift of being able to help others to realize their true potential for greater living, using the principles taught by The Science of Mind.

Welcome to our spiritual community!

WE, the Spiritual community known as Center For Spiritual Living West Georgia are people from all walks of life. Since we believe that we are all One in the Oneness of God, we welcome all, regardless of age, race, religious, social or sexual orientation. We are comfortable coming together and simply being who we are, because we believe that God totally approves of us just the way we are.

Our faith operates upon a Law of Mind, which creates our experience exactly according to our belief. We want to learn how to use our minds intelligently because we believe that by using our God-given minds intelligently, we best honor God and ourselves.
We welcome you wherever you are on your spiritual journey.