Article August 23, 1913 Issue

PERSONALITY OF GOD

ALFRED FARLOW

Mrs. Eddy has written extensively on this subject and has left no doubt as to her understanding respecting it. Not the least significant of her explanations is that found in "Rudimental Divine Science" (p. 1), where she says, "The word person affords a large margin for misapprehension, as well as definition." She then proceeds to enumerate the various meanings of the word which are given by lexicographers; as, for example, "'a living soul; a self-conscious being; a moral agent; especially, a living human being, a corporeal man'" (p. 2).

It is evident that none of these definitions can be correctly applied to Deity, and the important question is this, Which of these terms, if any, may be fittingly used, and who is to be the judge as to the correctness of any given appellative? One cannot intelligently choose a definition of God from the dictionary unless he himself has a demonstrably true knowledge of Him, and who, we may ask, has the authority to define Deity? The importance of such a knowledge is expressed in the words of the Master, "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." Here the Saviour sets forth in unmistakable terms the fact that the eternity and substantiality of being, for which all religionists seek, is to be obtained only through the understanding of God and His manifestation. On another occasion, when imparting a lesson in the rudiments of divine Science to the woman of Samaria, the Master said that God is "Spirit," and thus he gave a standard and authoritative definition of Deity.

Again on page 2 of "Rudimental Divine Science" Mrs. Eddy writes, "God is personal, if by person is meant infinite Spirit." While recognizing the inadequacy of the word personal, she expresses her preference for the word individual, since it is less confusing. If, however, the word is applied to Deity, it should be properly defined. Without doubt the nature of the personality of God is misunderstood by many, and if this term is to be used with reference to the Supreme Being at all, it should be employed with its deifice rather than its human meaning. Those who take issue with the teaching of Christian Science regarding the personality of God, should be explicit in defining their own sense of such personality in order that their criticism may be intelligent and just.

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