Article May 27, 1905 Issue

The Nature of Omniscience

C. W. CHADWICK.

The natural tendency of the human sense is to bring Deity down to its own level of observation and belief. It willingly concedes that God knows all things, and since it reasons from the standpoint of the reality of that which is seen, it very naturally concludes that God must know evil. This demoralizing notion, that both good and evil constitute the nature of omniscience, seems to be more or less prevalent among all not acquainted with Christian Science, which brings to light the unity and completeness of good, and the consequent unreality of evil. The argument, that because God knows all things He must of necessity know all about evil, would seem to be very plausible from a human-sense standpoint, but like all human reasoning it falls short of the truth, and history has yet to record any benefit to humanity from believing in such a theory. On the other hand, we are painfully aware of much harm that has resulted from the acceptance of a belief which makes evil as real as good, endows it with divine attributes, and then, in order to justify itself, makes God responsible for its existence. Such a belief is fortunately no part of Christ's Christianity, and had it never been accepted by professing Christians, apostolic healing would not have been lost sight of. In discussing this subject there will be no effort to force conclusions, beyond expressing some convictions gleaned from individual experience in practice. The writer's first faint insight into the true nature of omniscience, as revealed in the Christian Science text-book, was to him truly wonderful, and so convincing that he has never for one moment since been tempted to believe that an infinite Being could know or become conscious of anything unlike good. It has dissipated all mysticism concerning Christian Science healing, and has furnished a sure and safe foundation for all subsequent work in his endeavors to lead others into an understanding of the truth.

A call once came to visit the bedside of one who was in a seemingly critical condition. Help must come speedily. Human sense argued strongly for the use of artificial means, but the practitioner held firmly to the one Mind. The human soon yielded to the divine, when this thought came, "God alone knows how to solve the problem: He can do all things, and more than this, He knows that this need is already filled." Even a faint glimpse of the omniscience of good was all that was needed. Conditions which in a few hours would have caused most intense suffering, and which invariably necessitate the employment of surgical aid, were soon dispelled and harmony realized by the patient. To sense a miracle had been performed, while the Scientist saw only the harmonious operation of divine law and government.

Upon another occasion a Scientist was called upon to declare the truth for an absent patient. The call was urgent, and there were several seemingly plausible reasons why the Scientist should not treat the case, but these were all silenced and the help given. The thought of God's omniscience was paramount; it was realized that God knows no mortal discord, He is conscious of good only; with Him there is no need that is not already cared for. The prayer was effectual, the patient having experienced a marked change in physical conditions which had been pronounced incurable, and this, too, at the very time the practitioner was acknowledging the completeness and sufficiency of omnipotent good.

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