Ernest Holmes founded the international Religious Science movement and wrote The Science of Mind and numerous other books. He was born in poverty. Hard economic times continued most of his early life. His father did not do well at farming or at attempting to raise sheep.  As a young boy, Ernest Holmes began developing talents that would serve him throughout his life. Even before he learned to read, he acquired the skill of repeating scripture passages almost word for word after hearing them read only once.

 

Ernest’s parents would not tolerate the teaching of fear as part of religion. Ernest’s father would not stand for “hellfire” preaching. During one Sunday morning service, the local minister delivered a fiery sermon, declaring that all people were “worms of the dust, doomed to decay in the dust from which they had sprung.” Later, on the way home from church, Ernest’s father could not contain his anger. “Don’t be scared, boys, about worms of the dust,” he said. “You are not worms, and it’s a big lie. Jesus said, ‘Ye are gods and are like God if you keep it that way. Man was made by God. Any other story is lie.”

 

Ernest Holmes loved to read as was influenced by the work of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Christian Larson, Ralph Waldo Trine, Mary Baker Eddy, Thomas Troward and Emma Curtis Hopkins among many others where his spiritual knowledge began to solidify. This led him to understand the following:

 

1. There is an impersonal Law of the universe that is creative.

2. We create our own dungeons or destiny by using the same creative power that created the universe.

3. Omnipresence. Wherever Spirit is at all the whole of Spirit must be. “There is not a spot where God is not.”

4. We can use this God Power within us consciously to change our life for the better.

Ernest believed, “God is more ready to give than we are to receive,” he said. He believed that one of the aspects of prayer is to put oneself into harmony with the divine Law of Life and Abundance, to allow the flowing of God’s Good to fill us. “Never be astonished when prayer is answered; be surprised when It isn’t and find out where you went wrong.”

Ernest Holmes attracted the attention and eventual friendship with actress and singer Peggy Lee. Actress Rhonda Fleming remarked, “He took the teachings of Jesus,” she said, “and presented them in an exciting, contemporary way that manifested tremendous feelings of love and joy. He was a lovable, wonderful, warm friend – very sweet and kind, yet also down-to-earth, very real, and most comfortable with life.

Ernest Holmes went on to write several books, became a celebrated media and academic speaker. He continued to become recognized internationally for his contribution to religious thought. Awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy by India’s Andhra Research University, he also received honorary degrees from several other institutions, including the California College of Medicine, the University of California at Irvine, and the Foundation Academic University of Spiritual Understanding in Venice, Italy. He was also recognized by the Association of the Humanitarian Grand Prize of Belgium and was named an honorary member of the Eugene Field Society, a national group of authors and journalists.

Keep in Touch ►►►