Article August 16, 1919 Issue

Purification of Thought

ROBERT C. LOVE

Christian Science opens the door through which mankind may emerge from an earthly sense of existence into the realm of pure thinking,—the kingdom of heaven. Having found the way out of false beliefs, the student beholds the illumined pathway and awakens to know that he was drawn thitherward by the voice of Truth. The natural desire of mankind to live and enjoy harmony is clarified by the attraction of Spirit, and obeying this call it is lifted above the mist of conflict to find a more settled, peaceful consciousness.

One of the first lessons a student of Christian Science learns is to distinguish between that which is true and that which is false; that which is real, or purely spiritual, as opposed to that which is unreal, or material. In the degree that he thus discriminates in his thinking between the absolute facts of Mind and the concepts of finite sense, can it be said that he is appropriating the substance of the revelation of scientific Christianity as revealed to us in the inspired writings of Mrs. Eddy.

The educated beliefs of humanity invite the acceptance of a negative way of thinking, which leads to ultimate failure; while true thinking is always affirmative, constructive, and progressive. Humanly considered, we seem to be in the midst of two entirely different situations, a good and an evil. On the one side we apprehend God as the one creative Mind, and the universe of Spirit ever unfolding in orderly and harmonious completeness. As God is "of purer eyes than to behold evil," it follows that He knows man as wholly perfect, beautiful, and Christlike. It would be impossible for Him to view or consider man in any way other than as His own reflection or image and likeness. On the other side mortal mind beholds its own concepts, calls itself a creator, and attempts to define and control its so-called creation. Because of this sense of duality, or the seeming existence of opposites, there is a need of human salvation. The false sense of thinking has to be transformed by the true; thought has to be purged and illumined by spiritual ideas. As this is indispensable to growth, a basic rule must be adopted to insure success and freedom.

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