Center for Spiritual Living

History of Religious Science

Also known as Science of Mind, was founded in 1927 by Ernest Holmes (1887 to 1960) and is a religious movement within the New Thought Movement. (In general, the term "Science of Mind" applies to the teachings, while the term "Religious Science" applies to the organizations. However, adherents often tend to use the terms interchangeably.) Upon publication of his seminal book in 1926, The Science of Mind, Holmes established the Institute for Religious Science in Los Angeles. This organization would later become the Church of Religious Science.In 1953 the organization split into two organizations, known today as the United Church of Religious Science, or UCRS, and Religious Science International, or RSI. RSI cites the cause of the split as "differences in approach to corporate structure and church administration." UCRS is based in Burbank, California and currently led by Rev. Kathy Hearn. RSI is based in Spokane, Washington and currently led by Dr. Candice Becket. RSI is more decentralized. Global Religious Science Ministries, or GRSM, was founded by former RSI ministers who envisioned an expanded definition of ministry. GRSM is based in Silver Spring, Maryland and currently led by Rev. Douglas Kinney. In addition, there are some smaller branches, as well as independent Religious Science churches. The teachings of the branches are generally the same.