Article February 2, 1899 Issue

Questions and Answers

What do Christian Scientists mean when they say there is no sin?

Absolutely speaking, they mean just what they say. They do not mean, however, that sin does not exist as a human law and human belief, nor do they mean that mortals, as long as they are under the dominion of sin, are not sinners. As long as they believe in sin and give it power, mortals are sinners. Christian Scientists mean by the unreality of sin that where Good prevails no evil exists. To the extent that Good obtains in human consciousness evil or sin is ruled out therefrom. If the belief in sin predominates in the consciousness of the individual, he is more the servant of sin than of righteousness. If righteousness has the preponderance, he is more a righteous person than a sinner. If a man is less a sinner this year than he was last, he has to that extent overcome sin, and to the extent that he has overcome it he has proved its unreality to himself.

Let us suppose a community of persons, each of whom has so far destroyed for himself the belief that sin has power over him, that he is more the servant of righteousness than of sin. What would be the aggregate consciousness of that community? More righteous than sinful, would it not? If we can go thus far in our supposition, may we not legitimately go farther and suppose a community whose aggregate consciousness is entirely free from sin? In that community then, surely sin would not be real, for it would have no existence.

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