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FROM THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR
Now since what has just been stated is true, it follows that with the total destruction of evil there will be perfect freedom from disease. And has not this been proved, at least to some extent, by every human being? No one exists who has not seen the havoc which vice produces on humanity. And if the subject be examined more closely it will be found that every sick belief springs from the same source, — namely, the belief that matter is real substance, possessing sensation and controlling life. This belief is held by the majority today. Although Christ Jesus demonstrated the unreality of matter time and again in all the healings of sickness recorded of him, in his walking on the water, in his stilling of the tempest on the Sea of Galilee, and in his feeding the multitude when the disciples had only a few loaves and fishes at their disposal, still it is quite certain that the metaphysical meaning of his works has not been generally understood. Christian Science shows that Christ Jesus was perfectly certain as to the unreality of matter because of his intimate knowledge of the allness of God. No one had ever before realized as Jesus did that God was All-in-all, that God was the divine Principle, the only creator, the only cause, and that God was Spirit or Mind. Christ Jesus knew all these things. If he had not known them he could not have done the wonderful things recorded of him, from the restoring of the withered hand to the raising of the dead. In each and all of the miracles, as they are called, there is evidenced the same profound understanding of divine Principle, the same clear-sighted appreciation of the utter unreality of matter. It was all one to the Nazarene whether it was a case of sin or sickness he was called upon to heal. He applied the same Principle in every case. He understood the allness of Principle and consequently the utter unreality of matter or evil; and it was this spiritual understanding which brought about the healing. In dealing with the sick in Christian Science practice the question as to where they are standing morally has to be taken into account. Envy, revenge, jealously, malice, hate — are they not among the deadliest enemies of the human race? The passions of the human mind are the poison germs which play havoc with health and harmony. This being so, but one course is open for humanity to pursue in order to be free. First of all, the truth about God and His creation must be learned; and then in the light of this truth the unreal nature of evil or matter will become evident; the next step will consist in the application of the truth to the seemingly complex problem of human existence. Occasionally it is remarked by those who are unacquainted with the teachings of Christian Science that this Science makes nothing of evil, meaning of course that it ignores evil. Evil is nothing and it would be impossible for Science to make something of it, but to say that Science ignores evil's claim to existence and power is untrue. Throughout the whole of her writings Mrs. Eddy warns mankind continually against the claim of evil, pointing out the suffering which inevitably follows its indulgence, and urging upon the human race the necessity of obtaining a knowledge of Principle, of good, whereby to destroy evil's false claim to actuality. Thus on page 418 of Science and Health she writes: "Include moral as well as physical belief in your efforts to destroy error. Cast out all manner of evil." Recent years have shown evil apparently rampant, demanding to be made ruler over all men. Were ever lurking error, lust, envy, revenge, malice, hate, so apparent before in their combined efforts to destroy morality and to dethrone Principle? Yet the gigantic effort came to naught. It could not have ended otherwise, since Principle is omnipotent. When this fact became sufficiently known, the mesmerism of material sense which gave support to all the evil passions was broken, and the mighty effort of diabolism was vanquished. Nevertheless it will not do to conclude that the victory of moral right is complete. It never will be until every nation and people in the world have come to see the spiritual truth that Principle is All-in-all, and consent to the government of Principle. What, then, must be the line of enlightened pursuit? Obviously it must be the instruction of the whole world as regards the nature, wholeness, and omnipotence of divine Principle. This is what Christian Science is bringing about. All its efforts are directed to that end. Christian Science is the friend of humanity, telling the world that good is man's heritage, exposing the vices of the peoples, laying bare the autocratic meannesses of the human mind. If a man's knowledge of Principle could be known, a correct estimate of his capacity for good would be obtained. That is the test of all effort. To secure a complete moral victory would mean to gain an absolute realization of the divine Principle. The realization will take place gradually to human consciousness. The great thing, however, is that it should take place. "If Truth is overcoming error in your daily walk and conversation, you can finally say, 'I have kept the faith,' because you are a better man" (Science and Health, p. 21). Christian Science is the most practical religious system ever presented to mankind. Its teachings are based on the truth about the one infinite divine Principle, and as these teachings are understood they are found to include the method of healing all moral faults and all physical disease.
The Christian Science Monitor, April 16, 1919 Christian Science Sentinel, September 13, 1919 |
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