The old religious paradigm of duality--God lives in heaven and the devil lives in hell--keeps many people on the path of so-called righteousness. Belief in duality is the mindset that has deeply scripted the militant approach to life. For example, we fight disease, declare war on poverty, and battle mental illness or alcohol and drugs.
Many of us cut our teeth on the old hymn, "Onward Christian Soldiers." This promotes the idea that we must march off to war and call on a power outside ourselves to ward off evil and wrongdoing, rather than knowing there is no war in heaven (state of mind) and nothing in the Universe to oppose us!
Too many people for far too long have believed the old cliche, "Give Satan an inch, and he'll be a ruler!'
There is a tendency for human beings to deny the spiritual power within and seek comfort and answers outside the self.
The Religious Science teaching does not promote denial of the appearance of evil. However, we teach that evil is not a "cosmic entity--no devil, no hell, no torment, no damnation outside of one's own state of thought, and no salvation outside of conscious cooperation with the Infinite."
As we honor the Life that is in all of us, we treat ourselves and others with equal value and respect, which helps humanity awaken to its spiritual magnificence. Thus, the unity felt throughout the world creates heaven on earth!
