Editorial May 14, 1910 Issue

SELFHOOD, THE CONTENT OF CONSCIOUSNESS

John B. Willis

Next to "What is truth?" the leading question in human thought is, "What am I? what is the nature of selfhood, and how shall I define it?" and Christian Science is pouring such a flood of light upon both these subjects that the world's thinking respecting them is rapidly being revolutionized.

The speaking subject "I" or "we" is and must ever be identified with consciousness. Its character is determined by the kind and quality of thought entertained and expressed; hence the nature of this speaking ego is reached by the analysis of consciousness. When we remember the Scripture assertion that man was made in the divine image and likeness, and understand in Christian Science that this creation pertains to the eternal now, that it signifies the continuous activity or going forth of the divine nature, we can but perceive that the true ego or Christ-consciousness, the "child of God," is wholly constituted of the reflections of divine Mind, in which there can be no falsity or contradiction whatever. Thus "man and his Maker are correlated in divine Science, and real consciousness is cognizant only of the things of God" (Science and Health, p. 276).

On the other hand, many must have a keen sense of how relatively little of their present consciousness would be left if every thought which is not wholly conformed to the truth of being were removed. This sense of the vagrancy and unideality of every-day thought sometimes begets discouragement and morbidity, and escape from the attendant depression is to be found only as we enter into that conscious freedom in Christ which speaks for spiritual quickening, which is patiently progressive, and which is correspondingly able to voice the healing word.

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