Editorial August 17, 1907 Issue

THE "SCIENCE OF SOUL."

Annie M. Knott

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?—Jesus.

There is no word of Scripture more tenaciously held to by religionists than is "soul," and none whose meaning is so much questioned by the average thinker. Until Science and Health was published the soul was supposed to be something located somewhere in the material body, its functions unknown. It was held to be conscious of both good and evil, and yet to be immortal. The writer remembers hearing two zealous church members discussing its location, the one contending that it was in the brain, the other in the heart, and their arguments were marked by anger rather than by good logic. Later, a discussion of the same subject by eminent physicians appeared in the newspapers, but no more light was thrown upon it than had come from the opinions of the deacons aforementioned. The doctors were agreed that if the soul existed in man, its location and functions would surely have been revealed by the scalpel or microscope, and as there was no material evidence of its existence, it was reasonable to conclude that it did not exist.

In striking contrast with all mere opinion on this subject is the inspired declaration of our text-book, that Soul is divine,—that "God and Soul are one, and this one never belongs to a limited mind or to a limited body" (Science and Health, p. 335). The study of this whole subject in the light of the wonderfully illuminating statements of it in Science and Health, clears away the sense of mystery with which it has seemed to be enshrouded and offers the sincere thinker a scientific working basis instead of a speculative theory. The great Teacher's statement which we have quoted shows the tremendous importance of gaining the right understanding of Soul, and then of living up to its demands. He declares in unmistakable terms that the possession of "the whole world" counts as nothing over against the Soul of man,—his divine being.

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