James Pottenger

A Mother’s Faith.

After an exhaustive examination, Dr. Davis had to reluctantly agree with the Arizona physicians. The physical brain had healed from its injury, and with no evident tumor, remaining clots, swelling, or evolving physiology, wellwishers should not expect any change to James’ condition. Once again, a renowned specialist told Martha her son needed to be medicated and institutionalized—probably for the rest of his less than natural life.

Mrs. Pottenger listened attentively to this foremost expert. After Dr. Davis finished with his definitive diagnosis, the spirited mother of the future Dr. James P. Pottenger turned to the world-renown neurosurgeon and said: “With all due respect, sir, you’re wrong. My James is destined for great things in this world and I will prove it to you and all those other one-dimensional naysayers!” Martha Pottenger, a strong, independent person in her own right, was having none of it. If she had to travel to every corner of the globe, she was determined to find a cure for her son. I sat transfixed as James related this amazing, “second-coming” narrative. How could an intelligent, coherent, rationally thinking person evolve from such an inauspicious beginning? This is the place where infomercial telemarketers say, “But wait . . . there’s more!” Where most people would surrender to the inevitable, our purposeful, still-optimistic matriarch was just getting warmed up.

In her study and travels, Martha Pottenger was introduced to various metaphysical and religious practices, including “faith” cures. Now that a conventional solution had been ruled out, she turned toward Spiritual Science for transformational healing. After consulting with several top metaphysicians who explained the power of collective petition, she believed her best hope rested with a unified prayer group.

Once Martha made her final determination, she relentlessly pursued the top religious and Spiritual leaders in North America. She used every influential method she could think of to mobilize a giant conglomerate of cottage groups. She employed them to focus on one, single purpose—bring her sleepwalking son back to full consciousness! Martha’s recruitment included, among others: Mary Baker Eddy’s Christian Science organization in Boston, Massachusetts; Unity Church, originated by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; the Divine Science organization founded by the Brooks sisters from Denver, Colorado; and what would turn out to be the most influential of all . . . Science of Mind (SOM) founded by Dr Ernest Holmes, of Los Angeles, California. Martha impressed Dr. Holmes with her love and unwavering determination, and he was intrigued by James’ fate.

Ernest Takes the Reins.

In discussions Ernest would later have with James, he revealed Martha’s motivation was most impressively not a product of a mother’s fear, but a resolute and faithful knowing that her son would awaken. The SOM Founder agreed to help. He coordinated the combined efforts of the unified groups previously enlisted. The entire congregation and Science of Mind staff was added to the mix. James touched the hearts of all those who learned of his ordeal.

Approximately nine months after the accident, and after the top medical experts in the country definitively concluded her insane son would never amount to anything, James awoke.

A New James—A New Quest.

Still without past recollections, James remembered nothing of his childhood or the environmental events leading up to his rebirth. Those clustered around him seemed somehow familiar, but James had no direct knowledge of his friends, schoolmates, or family members. His newly awakened personality was also different. Being a child of privilege, he was generally thought arrogantly aggressive, aloof, and self-absorbed. Still quite charismatic, intelligent, and inquisitive, the new model seemed more sensitive, caring, and tolerant toward others. [Metaphysicians call this type of dramatic personality change—with a normal psyche (no pathology) but no recoverable recollection of past events—a “Soul swap” or “walk-in.”]

Although lacking memory of how he’d obtained a formal education, James intuitively knew things. Our young protégé went back to school and started earning degrees in an effort to resolve those larger-perspective questions no one would or could answer. He did graduate and post-graduate studies in Philosophy, Psychology, Religion, and Business. At Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, he earned his first advanced degree (MBA). James had a new and especially strong interest in the workings of the mind and in the variances of human behavior. While pursuing his business career, James continued his studies and quickly earned additional degrees in philosophy, religion, and metaphysics. Always the voracious student, he soon added anthropology and linguistics. James felt an unexplained motivation to research and teach in unexplored areas of consciousness and humanity’s link to the Transcendent.

James meets the Holmes Boys.

Not until the middle to late fifties did James Pottenger personally met Ernest and Fenwick Holmes. With Fenwick the intellectual brother of the charismatic, crowd-pleasing Ernest, the three bonded instantly. So much so that James was invited to guest at Ernest’s home during the thirty-month period he attended seminary training. James became so enamored with Ernest, Fenwick, and their unifying, all-inclusive Science of Mind philosophy that he decided to enter training and become a Religious Science minister.

Ordination.

Dr. Pottenger continued to share his astonishing and previously private history with me. He described a mentoring epiphany—what Zen Buddhists call “Satori”—with Fenwick, and especially Ernest. James and Ernest would often discuss the oneness of life and existence until the wee hours of the morning. 1958– 60 were especially joyous years for James. Whenever the spirited seminary student quizzically disclosed some contrasting challenge with an instructor, Ernest would reassuringly say: “Just get your certification, James; then you can teach concepts your own way.”

By early 1960, James had completed his training at what would later be known as the “Holmes Institute.” In the same year that the Los Angeles Founders Church of Religious Science was dedicated, the previously insane and written-off James P. Pottenger was ordained. Also in 1960 (April), Ernest, the charismatic and beloved teacher, motivator, and energy healer, made his glorious transition. Although saddened by the passing of his great friend, mentor, and father figure, James felt he’d found a home in Science of Mind principle.

excerpted from: Celestial Fire – A Naval Aviator’s Spiritual Odyssey
By LARRY JAMES STEVENS