The Center for Spiritual Living Redlands is a church based on the philosophy of Religious Science.
You can read more about the founder of Religious Science below.
About Ernest Holmes
Founder of the Institute of Religious Science in 1927-Ernest Holmes (1887-1960) was born on a small farm in Lincoln, Maine to a poor family, Ernest left school and family at the age of 15 to Boston where he worked from 1908-1910 in a store to pay for his tuition at the Leland Powers School for Expression. Holmes had an inquisitive and brilliant mind with a love for humanity. His thirst for knowledge and Truth led him to study the works of many philosophers and “truth seekers.” Some of the most prolific were: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Dr. Phineas Quimby, Charles & Myrtle Filmore, Mary Baker Eddy, Emma Curtis Hopkins, William Walker Atkinson, Christian D. Larson, and Judge Thomas Troward, in addition to the Bible, Hinduism and sacred Eastern texts of many of the world religions. Holmes moved to Venice, California in 1912 to join his brother Fenwicke who was a Congregationalist Minister. He worked as a purchasing agent for the City of Venice in for about 2 to 3 years. In 1916 he began speaking publicly at a metaphysical library (audience of 15 people), and published a metaphysical magazine with his brother entitled Uplift. Holmes worked with the Junior Church. Holmes’ mother worked in fundraising and to provide for the community’s needy citizens. Holmes was ordained as a Divine Science Minister. By 1925 Holmes spoke at the Ambassador Hotel (600 seats) then The Ebell Theater (1300 seats). By 1935 he spoke regularly at the Wiltern Theatre (2800 seats).
Ernest Holmes is the author of his seminal work The Science of Mind text which Holmes said correlated the “laws of science, opinions of philosophy, and revelations of religion applied to human needs and the aspirations of man.” The Text was first published in 1922 & republished in1926 and revised in 1938 to create an edition that has since been reprinted at least 45 times in at least 64 languages with Centers teaching this philosophy and way of life in at least 20 nations.
Ernest Holmes teaching is based on a belief that God as “Universal Mind, Spirit, Intelligence, is the origin of everything”, and that there is a universal law of cause and effect operating in the life of humankind. He called his philosophy a science because “it can be taught, it can be learned and it can be consciously applied with a certainty of definite and repeatable results”.
Among his many accomplishments, Holmes was an inspiring public speaker on metaphysics, he also hosted popular programs on both radio and television called “This Thing Called Life”. He would begin each broadcast with the statement: “There is a Power for Good in the Universe, greater than you are, and you can use it”. This was the essence of his belief.
“There is a Power for Good in the Universe, greater than you are, and you can use it”
In 1927, Ernest Holmes married Hazel Durkee Foster who was an aspiring Opera singer and later became a Practitioner with an office next to his. Also in 1927, Holmes launched the “Science of Mind Magazine” a monthly publication that has brought spiritual teachings to the world ever since. His organization evolved into the Church of Religious Science (1953) and the United Church of Religious Science-UCRS-(1967) now called United Centers for Spiritual Living (UCSL)
Holmes’ wife Hazel died in 1957 at age 69 and Ernest made his transition on April 7, 1960 at 73 years of age. Standing 5’3” Ernest had a dynamic presence and was known as a philosopher first, and Minister only when forced upon him. Holmes believed children should grow up “with faith and not fear”. Ernest never retired and was at the dedication of Founders Church just 3 months before his death. Ernest Holmes legacy lives on, his teachings and writings have impacted millions of people as they travel on their individual spiritual paths. To see and hear Ernest Holmes, you can GOOGLE his name and click on a YouTube Video of one of his only televised talks.
“Can you afford the consequences of the way you are thinking?”
Holmes liked to say: “Can you afford the consequences of the way you are thinking?” and one of his famous quotes is seen as you enter the Sanctuary of our Spiritual Treatment Center in Redlands, California, the words on the wall atop of the entry doors state “Change your thinking, Change your Life”.
Change your thinking,
Change your Life