Article March 29, 1913 Issue

HABITS OF THOUGHT

WILLIAM HART SPENCER.

Few will dispute the assertion that on this plane of experience we are surrounded by unsatisfactory conditions, and none will gainsay that the main efforts of humanity are put forth in the attempt to rise above the handicaps which appear to be specific to the individual consciousness. Furthermore, it will be admitted by the majority that conditions detrimental to well-being lie within the realm of the human mentality, and that enlightened thought will naturally direct corrective effort toward a true mental advance.

The saying, "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so," is often used as an excuse for sin fulness by the simple process of "thinking" that some sin is not sinful. While it is true that thinking is the basis of motive, thinking should differentiate between right and wrong. Properly the expression should be: Good (spiritual) thinking makes for right; carnal mind thinking makes for wrong.

Through dread of the consequences, most of us put forth a pretended effort, at least, to escape from the bondage of sin, and having learned that evil things follow evil thoughts, there will naturally be an attempt to cleanse our mentality; but the evil inheres in this "carnal mind," as St. Paul phrases it, and as it knows nothing outside of itself, it will not and cannot correct itself. A foul cistern has no innate power to do its own cleansing. "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

HABITS OF THOUGHT

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access