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GEORGE A. MAGNEY
At a time when materialism was fast finding favor with Christians and scholars, Mrs. Eddy declared that God is Spirit and the only cause or creator. She also declared that God is Life and Love, and that He creates nothing unlike Himself. Having learned these truths, we have no difficulty in distinguishing the real from the unreal. We then understand that everything spiritual and good must be real; while everything material and evil must be unreal, thus differing from our educational systems which teach the reality of matter, that man is mortal and material, and that life and intelligence are dependent upon matter. Because of this false teaching, the question of evil has always been a disturbing factor in human experience. Mortals have usually regarded evil as a reality, and have tried to account for it in some rational way. It has sometimes been attributed to God, and sometimes to a power opposed to God. The problem of evil has thus always hung like a pall over the human race. What it is, where it comes from, and how to get rid of it have been subjects of study and discussion throughout the ages. If we believe God to be responsible for evil, then we must concede that it is rightfully here, and must be endured. If we believe that evil is created by a power opposed to God, then again we have no hope of escape; for if there be such a power, God is not supreme and the only creator, and can afford us no relief. Christian Science declares evil, including sin and all other discordant conditions, to be the result of the ignorance and wrong thinking of the so-called carnal mind, and therefore to be unreal. This carnal mind, which is "enmity against God," is responsible for all there is of evil and disease. It is the outgrowth of the five material senses; and not only is it "enmity against God" and all things spiritual, but it is in itself a brood of false beliefs or wrong thoughts; and these are the source of all the fear, suffering, and sin the world knows anything about. If all mankind would henceforth think and live in harmony with God's law of good and right, sin and evil would be eliminated from human experience. We never sin until we think about that which is sinful; consequently, sin is wrong and sinful thinking put into effect, and is without a real creator. The same reasoning shows the unreality of sickness and death. These are false beliefs of the so-called human mind, born of ignorance. Through the study of Christian Science we learn that God is the only Life, and that man as His image and likeness reflects the one Life. The Life that is God is everywhere, indivisible and immortal. It must follow, then, that there can be no death. If there is but one Life and this immortal, then death is an illusion and unreal. The same must, necessarily, be true of sickness and disease. If God is the only creator, and His creation is spiritual, harmonious, and immortal, then sickness is nothing more than a mistaken belief of the human mind. There can be no escape from this conclusion, unless we concede that God causes disease, or admit that there is a power opposed to God and that this power inflicts physical suffering upon the human family. This admission, however, would destroy the argument that God is omnipotent; for if true, He could not be the universal cause or creator. It follows, then, that sickness and sin are simply the effects of wrong thinking or the ignorant beliefs of the so-called carnal mind. Mrs. Eddy has given apt expression to the perception of this on page 14 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," where she says: "Become conscious for a single moment that Life and intelligence are purely spiritual, — neither in nor of matter, — and the body will then utter no complaints. If suffering from a belief in sickness, you will find yourself suddenly well." The ills which the carnal mind believes flesh to be heir to will be manifested so long as mortals assume that life and intelligence are to be found in the body and are dependent upon matter, notwithstanding the fact that they are simply mental delusions and unreal. Mortals are afraid of evil, disease, suffering, and death because they believe in their reality. How simple and yet how wonderful is the remedy! When we have learned the truth about God and His creation, we shall know that sickness and discord of every character are unreal; and just to the extent that we think and live in harmony with this understanding, we shall be free. God and His manifestation are all there is. Nothing else has any reality; but mortals have yet to learn this great spiritual truth. To the human sense of things, these are days of tumult and unrest. As a result of false beliefs and wrong thinking, selfishness and greed are manifested to such an extent as to put our boasted civilization to a severe test. If the distinction between the real and the unreal were understood, greater love would be manifested in the world; and in no other way can lasting peace or harmony ever come. When mortals understand that discord of every character — whether manifested as want, selfishness, fear, sin, sickness, or death — is simply a delusion of the carnal mind, and unreal, and that life, love, health, and harmony are manifestations of the divine Mind, and are therefore real, they will also comprehend what the Saviour meant when he said, "If ye continue in my word, . . . ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
Christian Science Sentinel, February 9, 1924 |
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