The Handling of Error ELLA W. HOAG, CSD          Occasionally, Christian Scientists are heard to say: It is "old-fashioned" to handle error; it is no longer necessary to do it; what we need to do now is to dwell in the absolute truth. Now, the handling of error is certainly "old-fashioned." It began in the garden of Eden, when God asked that heart-searching question: "Adam, where art thou?" and then proceeded to analyze, rebuke, and cast out evil. This handling of error has been going on ever since, and will continue until the last belief in error has been destroyed.          It is also true that the necessity of the Christian Scientist is to dwell consciously in absolute Truth. This is the goal he is constantly striving for; and he will never be satisfied until he attains it. Attain it he cannot, however, unless he handles error, and handles it at each step of the way. If any one is inclined to doubt this, let him look into his own experience in trying to demonstrate his way out of evil. How often in attempting to hold his thinking in the realization of the truth — in the contemplation of spiritual good alone — has he found himself drifting off into inane or even into positively evil thinking? And why is this? Because Truth has uncovered error in his thinking and he has not handled the error thus exposed.          In "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 24), in speaking of Jesus' teaching on this subject, Mrs. Eddy writes: "The Nazarene Prophet declared that his followers should handle serpents; that is, put down all subtle falsities or illusions, and thus destroy any supposed effect arising from false claims exercising their supposed power on the mind and body of man, against his holiness and health." This would certainly imply that the only way out of evil is through the handling of it, and that the failure to handle it would result disastrously. Since the handling of error is therefore a necessity, he who recognizes and accepts this will be enabled to go forward in his demonstration of the allness of God, good, — but not otherwise.          And how shall it be done? Mrs. Eddy points to the first step in the way when she says: "The proper knowledge of evil and its subtle workings wherein evil seems as real as good, is indispensable; since that which is truly conceived of, we can handle" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 108). Now Truth alone can show what to handle, because it alone can reveal error as error; and Truth's first activity in human thought is always to uncover error. For the Christian Scientist to allow any error thus exposed to remain unchallenged, unrebuked, undestroyed, is to fail to handle error and is to cherish that which will at some time break forth in torment and distress.          Again, Truth alone can handle the error it uncovers. Error cannot handle itself; . . . hate cannot overcome hate; ignorance can never expel ignorance. No! Truth alone can uncover, rebuke, and prove unreal the beliefs of a supposititious opposite; and it does this through the method which Christian Science reveals, whereby every thought can be analyzed, that all which is contrary to Truth may be denied and rejected completely. Error thus rejected is expelled from consciousness and can no longer even claim to act as a deterrent or hindrance to the reign of God, good, in the experience of the one who at that time and under those specific circumstances has thus handled error.          Again, and finally, Truth never deals with error as something. On the contrary, as Mrs. Eddy declares, "you must find error to be nothing: then, and only then, do you handle it in Science" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 334). In other words, Truth always shows the utter falsity and powerlessness of error by rebuking it with its own unreality, and thus enables the one desiring to dwell only with Truth to prove such to be his present possibility. If the Christian Scientist fails to follow this method, he may claim he has not been taught how to handle error. He may complain much. However this may be, it remains the fact that Mrs. Eddy has taught the way to handle error in all her writings. Honest study, prayer, and practice will inevitably bring proportionate results of demonstrated power over evil through the lessening of the belief of reality in evil and a consequently larger comprehension of the allness of good.          The correct handling of error, therefore, enables the Christian Scientist to advance constantly in his ability to dwell in the conscious presence of Life, Truth, and Love. His progress will be steady and his victories over evil will continually encourage and strengthen him. He will not ask to lay down his arms in the handling of error until the last mortal belief is proved unreal. He will gladly go on in his triumphant progress, allowing Truth to show him every least claim of evil in order that it may be cast out. Then he will be able to delight in "casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." Then he shall see that in the handling of error as Christian Science teaches, he has begun with Truth, he has remained with Truth, he has concluded with Truth. Truth has indeed been proved by him to be, in every experience, the only reality and the only power.   "The Handling of Error" by Ella W. Hoag, CSD Christian Science Sentinel, April 1, 1922

 

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