Max Kappeler’s Teaching Moments
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Love – Do we know what it is?
Max Kappeler
The intelligent divine Principle, Love
“Withdraw God, divine Principle, from man and the universe, and man and the universe would no longer exist. But annihilate matter, and man and the universe would remain the forever fact, the spiritual ‘substance of things hoped for;’ and the evidence of the immortality of man and the cosmos is sustained by the intelligent divine Principle, Love” (My. 226:14)
The cosmos is sustained by the intelligent divine Principle, Love
(The following is an edited excerpt from Max Kappeler, The Four Levels of Spiritual Consciousness, pp. 134–135)
“… it is significant that in Science and Health Mrs. Eddy does not merely define God as ‘divine Principle,’ but adds Love: ‘divine Principle, Love.’
This describes the essence of divine Science itself. Principle alone would mean that divine Being is only a dynamic, efficacious, fundamental, scientific Being. Love complements the picture by giving aim and purpose to Principle.
Because Principle is Love, Principle operates neither aimlessly nor without a plan. Love integrates the infinite operating of Principle into a harmonious, coherent whole and thus becomes harmonious self-government itself.
Principle says: I have an idea, a plan; Love fulfills this plan. Without Love, the divine Principle would not have the function of saving; it would lack a true objective and would, therefore, not be teleological ….
In its essence, integration is Love, which wants to include, embrace, and preserve everything. Because true Science is based on Principle, Love, this Principle, Love, forces its essence upon inquiring humanity and causes it to investigate not only principles but also the possibility of their integration into Love’s plan of salvation. So it is not by chance that for some years now, leading scientists of physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, paleontology, psychology, etc., have been speaking more and more freely of the necessity of love … But, in this context, to the scientists, love means something much higher, purer, more impersonal ….”
Universal Love knows only one universe
(The following is an edited excerpt from Max Kappeler, The Seven Synonyms for God, pp. 85–86.)
“Universal Love knows only one universe. This causes mankind to awaken to the fact that no one can remain unaffected by what goes on anywhere else in the world. All-embracing, all-integrating Love forces us to realize that both present and future problems can only be solved on a worldwide basis and through a universal, global consciousness … Love says: I am all-embracing perfection and excellence; in me error and evil are unknown; I know no accuser; for me, every detail is in a state of complete fulfillment.”
Love Meets Our Human Need
Kappeler shows the demonstration of Love’s perfection in our human experience through his scientific interpretation of the 23rd Psalm, as presented in Science and Health.
(The following is an edited excerpt from Max Kappeler, Epitomes for the Spiritually Structured Interpretation of the Christian Science Textbook, THE APOCALYPSE” Chapter XVI, p.4)
Christian Science: accent on Love (S&H 577:28-578:18)
LOVE: The incorporeal or spiritual sense of Deity demonstrates Love’s perfection in human experience (S&H 577:28–578:18).
–as Mind [Divine Love] is my shepherd; I shall not want (Mind guides, S&H 578:5).
–as Spirit [Love] maketh me to lie down in green pastures: [Love] leadeth me beside the still waters (Spirit feeds and clothes, S&H 578:6–7).
–as Soul [Love] restoreth my soul [spiritual sense]: (Soul restores, 578:8 to [:]).
–as Principle [Love] leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake (Principle demonstrates itself, S&H 578: 8[:]–9).
–as Life Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for [Love] is with me; [Love’s] rod and [Love’s] staff they comfort me (Life leads to deathless life, S&H 578:10–12).
–as Truth [Love] prepareth a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: [Love] anointeth my head with oil; my cup runneth over (Truth’s consciousness saves, S&H 578:13–15).
–as Love Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house [the consciousness] of [Love] for ever (Love bestows infinite good, S&H 578:16-18).