Article September 14, 1974 Issue

What Do We Mean by "Human"?

KIMMIS HENDRICK

Christian Science offers this uncompromising distinction between the real and unreal: "There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter. All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all."^{Science and Health, p. 468;} These words introduce "the scientific statement of being" written by Mrs. Eddy as part of her important chapter entitled "Recapitulation" in Science and Health. It seems safe to say that few sentences have more helped, inspired, or instructed students of her teachings.

As a beginner in this study, I found them priceless. They gave me a keynote for prayer. Even so, at first I found their total repudiation of matter hard to grasp. The branch Church of Christ, Scientist, I attended occupied an impressive building. To me it looked material. During Sunday services I often found myself wondering how I could say, "There is no matter," when the surrounding structure seemed so tangible in a material way.

Then one Sunday, as the First Reader read "the scientific statement of being" during the conclusion of the service, there flashed through my thought the phrase "false value." It occurred to me that matter misrepresents, or puts a false value on, the fact that "all is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation."

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