Article January 23, 1909 Issue

SPIRIT AND MATTER OPPOSITES

REV. G. A. KRATZER.

Two subjects under consideration are opposites, if when carefully examined they manifest no qualities or characteristics in common. Applying this test to Spirit and matter, we find that Spirit is infinite, matter is manifest only in finite form; Spirit is unchangeable, matter is changeable; Spirit is inapprehensible to the physical senses, matter is apprehensible only to these senses; Spirit is eternal, matter is temporal; Spirit is not subject to imperfection, matter is subject to imperfection; Spirit is intelligent, matter is non-intelligent; Spirit is indivisible, matter is divisible, and so on, in every point at which the two can be examined. Hence, under the definition, Spirit and matter are opposites, even as light and darkness, good and evil, truth and falsehood are generally conceded to be opposites.

It is inconceivable that light should create darkness or anything dark, that truth should create falsehood or anything false, that good should create evil or anything evil, that Spirit should create matter or anything material. Spirit could not do so, any more than truth, good, and light can create their opposites. The Scriptures declare God to be Spirit, and the sole creator. Spirit as the sole creator could not and did not make any matter, and therefore matter is impossible as an actuality, merely the name for a false appearance, a false sense of substance, the opposite of Mind, Spirit, which is the only real substance.

In Hebrews we read, "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. They "do appear" to be made of matter, but the things which are seen materially are "of such stuff as dreams are made of," while the unseen, spiritual things are really substantial, and Spirit, creative Mind, is their substance. In this connection the following, adapted from a letter from a friend, may prove illuminating:—

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