The Center for Spiritual Living is a branch of religious science, not to be confused with Scientology, that focuses on the philosophy that there is one power, or principal, that is to be followed. That power dwells within the heart, soul, and mind and is all created and connected within one substance - the human body.

"We call it God, some call it Buddah, or Allah, but it is all the same sort of principal to us," said the Center for Spiritual Living Reverend Diane Nockey. Nockey has been the Center for Spiritual Living Hemet reverend for five years. She was formerly the reverend at the Seaside Center for Spiritual Living. "We teach spirituality. If you feel more spiritual than religious, religious science could make sense for you."

Nockey said a major difference between religious science and Christianity is that religious science has no hell or Devil.

"I think we do a pretty good job of creating our own sort of hell on earth," Nockey said. "We create our experiences by our choices, our thoughts, and our intentions. God gave us free choice and the ability to be renewed."

The Center for Spiritual Living changed its name from the Church of Religious Science after several people became confused by the name.

"Our church, as well as several other religious science churches, went through a sort of identity crises. Many people knew what Scientology was, but not what religious science was. It was just assumed they were the same," Nockey said. "We changed the name simply to lessen the confusion."

According to Nockey, people of all religions are welcome to attend services at the Center for Spiritual Living because all religions stem from the same substance of God. In her service, she will quote the Bible as well as Buddha and other spiritual sources.

"We believe in allowing the spiritual side of ourselves determine what the physical side does," Nockey said. "Prayer can change thinking and change life. Once people realize God created them and that all others are made of God stuff, and begin to pray in the affirmative, they will see the wholeness - the light in the situation of darkness."

The founder of religious science theology is Ernest Holmes, a student of multiple religions. In his studies, he found that at the base of all religions the God had a mystical encounter with the divine and the religion was formed around that.

A major component of religious science is the idea that humans are one with God and that there is only one major presence.

"Religious science is a new thought church, not a new age church," Nockey said. "It is a uniquely American form of philosophy and worship."

There are several women leaders in the church, including Nockey. There are nine practitioners in the Hemet church and between 70 and 90 members.

"This is a new way of looking at God. It is uplifting and affirmative," Nockey said. "We simply try to follow the philosophy the best we can, but realize we will make mistakes. We don't pray up, we pray internally. We find spiritual understanding and practice love and compassion."

The Center for Spiritual Living is at 40450 Stetson Ave. in Hemet. Sunday services are at 10 a.m. with a preservice meditation at 9:30 a.m. On Jan. 8, Nockey will discuss "The Power to Choose."