Are you sure?
This bookmark will be removed from all folders and any saved notes will be permanently removed.
Materiality Unreal
Human theories spring from a basis of belief instead of a basis of truth. Christian Science, on the contrary, begins with demonstrable truth, and admits only logical deductions therefrom. Human thought takes on diviner hues in proportion as it accepts the facts of Science in place of its own beliefs. The superstructure built on a false premise is well likened to the house built on the sand. Its apparent solidity is unreal, and either time or accident, to both of which it is subject, insures its ultimate destruction.
The basis on which human reasoning has reared itself, and on which it depends, is the assumption of substance-matter, but this belief in and of itself could produce nothing, for even human reason will not accept organized or unorganized dust as causation. It recognizes the necessity of intelligence, and tries to combine the two opposite elements of mind and matter, and thus arrives at the belief in mortal man, embodying qualities antagonistic to each other,—a combination of intelligence and non-intelligence, Spirit and matter, good and evil. Reason on the human plane does not accept either unalloyed evil or unalloyed matter, but theorizes their union with Spirit; which is as illogical as the union of ignorance and knowledge. Mortal man thus conceives of himself, and how can this concept result but in its own destruction, even as a kingdom divided against itself? That man is wholly material is an impossibility now generally admitted. Mortal man realizes the necessity for good, but seeking it through material sources, his sense of it must of necessity be imperfect. Like children learning to walk, we distrust the omnipotence of Spirit to sustain us, until, by degrees, we place our affection and trust in more spiritual lines, when, being more nearly normal, they bring out harmony.
Through the study of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, we learn that the amalgamation of such opposites as intelligence and non-intelligence, good and evil, Spirit and matter, is an impossibility and exists only in belief. To the unawakened thought this union and its discordant manifestations seem to be real; but an awakening has begun in Christian Science, and it is the coming of Christ, Truth. The dawning of this saving truth seems slow to mortals, but as we begin to see that the supreme governing, all-inclusive cause of all reality is Spirit and not matter, we learn the falsity of material pleasure and pain; then they lose their power over us; for the strength of sin is the supposed pleasure of sin, and when we find that there is no real pleasure in it, we naturally forsake it.
Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.
July 14, 1906 issue
View Issue-
An Interesting Letter
Dunmore
-
Effecting a Change of Thought
SAMUEL GREENWOOD.
-
Materiality Unreal
A. D. PACKARD.
-
The editor of the Herald, in his courteous rejoinder to...
W. C. Williams
-
A critic has said that he considers Christian Science a...
Charles K. Skinner
-
More than thirty thousand Christian Scientists from all...
with contributions from The Chatterer
-
Among the Churches
with contributions from Stella W. Hewes, Emma M. J. Kunze
-
The Lectures
with contributions from Mayor Gerber, Z. R. Brockway
-
MRS. EDDY TAKES NO PATIENTS
Editor
-
Card
MARY BAKER EDDY.
-
Amendments to By-laws
Editor
-
A Changed Thought
Archibald McLellan
-
Prevention Better than Cure
Annie M. Knott
-
Scientific Discernment
John B. Willis
-
Letters to Our Leader
with contributions from William B. Johnson, William Lyman Johnson, Nellie Archer Aley, Martha L. Strang
-
When I think of all the years I have enjoyed since being...
Mary B. La Marche
-
Ten years have elapsed since I became interested in...
Lillie D. Storm
-
Christian Science came to my notice about six years ago...
Matthew T. Bayle
-
Christian Science came to me about two and a half years...
Emma Vance Hancock
-
I wish to add a word in support of the above testimony
G. L. Hancock
-
I have long wanted to tell the world of my healing...
Mattie Joyner
-
At the birth of my second child, in March, 1902, a great...
Rosie Theresa Robeson
-
I wish to express my gratitude for what Christian Science...
Amanda Faircloth
-
All my life I had been an invalid
Jennie E. Rankin
-
In May, 1894, I was obliged to give up my business, and...
Frank H. Dunton
-
The Unseen Friend
F. A. Owen
-
From our Exchanges
with contributions from O. F. Safford