Evolutionary Spiritualy, by Dr. Jim Lockard

“The spiral of life is upward. Evolution carries us forward, not backward. Eternal and progressive expansion is its law, and there are no breaks in its continuity. It seems to me that our evolution is the result of an unfolding consciousness of that which already is, and needs but to be realized to become a fact of everyday life.”

~ Ernest Holmes, The Science of Mind 

You would be correct to understand evolution as the modus operandi of the Universe. Our incredible Universe, where things began with hydrogen, heat, and time, and where, from these basic elements, increasingly complex forms and structures, including life, have emerged. As Dr. Holmes notes above, evolution has led to an unfolding of consciousness via increasingly complex and intelligent forms in creation.

We are evolutionary beings in an evolutionary Universe. Our growth is developmental across several domains: biology, intellect, emotions, and spiritual realization. Our innate potentials emerge as we develop along these domains. What is next for us is always a new emergence of potential, which becomes available through evolutionary progress. In other words, we become more evolved channels for the actualization of potential as we develop.

What differentiates humans from other life forms on earth is that with us, the capacity to know this about ourselves has evolved. Thus, we can consciously and intentionally encourage our own development. Spiritually, this is accomplished through increased awareness and spiritual practices to embody that awareness. We begin with the basics and work our way to the more esoteric aspects of our teachings according to our own inclinations.

Interestingly, the mathematics of spiritual growth is more about subtraction than addition. We do need to add awareness, but much of the focus of our spiritual practices is to subtract beliefs that have accumulated and become inhibitors to further growth. As we dissolve these old beliefs and change old habits, the addition of new potentials happens more or less automatically as we clear the pathway for emergence from within.

The Science of Mind™ is a teaching of evolutionary spirituality. It teaches us about our evolutionary nature and how to be more authentic expressions of that nature. We design our consciousness, which becomes the vehicle of emergence for our inner potential – the love, wisdom, joy, and true potential that we are.

What could be better than that? 

Dr. Lockard received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, and his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Miami. He has served on the Joseph Campbell Foundation, on the Board of Directors of The Orphan Foundation, and on the Board of Advisors of the Foundation for Self-Esteem (Jack Canfield).

Prior to his entry into ministry, Dr. Lockard worked in law enforcement in Maryland and Florida. Highlights of his service include deputy-chief of the Ocean City, Maryland Police Department; commander of the Metro-Dade County Police Department’s police academy and of the Tourist-Oriented Police Program; and coordinator of stadium security for Super Bowl XXIX. He retired as a lieutenant from Metro-Dade in 1996.

He became a licensed Religious Science practitioner in 1993, Religious Science minister in 1995 and was ordained in 2000. He received a Doctorate of Religious Science in 2008.