Authentic Health New Mexico

This is a thoughtful op-ed piece on “Taking care of children – a Christian Scientist’s perspective,”  by Rich Evans.  The op-ed was first published on PennLive on April 20, 2017.

 

Children are society’s tenderest concern. They’re dear not only to their parents and families but to all good people everywhere.

The laws relating to their care matter enormously. It’s often said, rightly, that the character of a society is judged by its care for children and others unable to care for themselves.

This is the perspective Christian Scientists bring to the recent news reports on the death of a child in a religious group noted for faith healing and opposition to medicine.

The care of our children comes first for us. It isn’t a second priority somewhere below “religious beliefs.” I say this as a father and grandfather as well as a Christian Scientist. And I say it simply as a human being.

Christian Scientists have raised many hundreds of thousands of children over the century-plus since the church’s founding.

We’re a diverse group, but most of us, at least, aren’t unyielding or unthinking people. Deeply as we value religious freedom, we recognize that it isn’t absolute, but needs to be balanced with what’s best for society as a whole.

Readers may be asking, “But aren’t Christian Scientists ‘noted for faith healing and opposition to medical care’?”

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Can we think more deeply about “fake news” than the superficial and sometimes cynical reports on this subject in the media?  My colleague from Australia, Kay Stroud, writes about the connection between spirituality, consciousness and health.  She has some important ideas about “Clearing up “fake news” on every front.”  Kay’s blog was first published on February 24, 2017, in the Sunshine Coast Daily.

The recent disclosures about “fake news” in the media illustrate that we need to be more alert than ever to discern if what’s being said is fact or fiction.

We’re actively seeking truth, rather than blindly accepting everything we hear or read as fact. Even in the smallest of affairs, the power and effect of honesty are felt and appreciated.

Honesty is not only desirable in our dealings, it’s also linked to better health.

Research suggests that frequent lying, deceit, fabrication, or misrepresentation of the truth in our lives or in our conversations – or even accepting “fake news” as truth – can have unexpected ramifications, leading to stress and chronic pessimism.

One study at a university found that lying and cheating were common and even became quite acceptable as fellow-students were also seen to be lying and cheating.

Furthermore, behavioural scientist, Professor Dan Ariely from Duke University, postulates* that we all lie to some degree, with rationalisations for our actions including the desire to look clever or cooler to others (to be the person we wish we were) or to obtain some reward.

However, in the study, cheating decreased dramatically when participants were asked to swear on the Bible or sign an honour code, or try to list the Ten Commandments before the test. Then, not one cheated!

The results suggest that, when the presence of a higher power is brought to bear on the situation, it spurs us to identify ourselves with the truthful behaviours we associate with divinity. And, this, lifts us out of poor behaviours.

Our better nature is evidently detectable despite the “alternative facts” arguing how flawed we are. When reminded of our diviner nature, our innate honesty and goodness quite naturally take precedence.

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