Article September 27, 1913 Issue

Destroying Evil

ARCHIE E. VAN OSTRAND

When Jesus was accused by the Pharisees of casting out devils through Beelzebub, he replied, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation ; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand." His reply indicated that every attempt of the human or carnal mind to cast out the errors of its own creating would be futile and would end in defeat and disaster, and he further illustrated the point by declaring that, if the evils were cast out by that method, and the individual's mind were left empty, then the evils would return, and the last state of that man would be worse than the first.

So long as mortals believe that evil is real, their only hope of freedom from it lies in the possibility of casting it out, thus leaving it, in belief, an entity which they fear may attack them again whenever, perchance, they may be exposed to it. But when they come into a true understanding of Christian Science, then the unreality of evil appears, and their belief in it, and fear of it, is scientifically destroyed. This point must be clear to every one who would be free from the great delusion that holds mankind in bondage.

The question is often asked, "What part of a Christian Science treatment should be devoted to the denial of error, and what part to the affirmation of good?" No better answer could be given than to refer one to the "scientific statement of being," which may be found on page 468 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy. We should bear in mind, however, that a Christian Science treatment is not merely a formula of words to be repeated, but is the realization of the ever-presence, omnipotent power, and all-harmonious action of God, divine Mind. It is to "let theharmonious and true sense of Life and being take possession of human consciousness" (Science and Health, p. 355). The denial of error, therefore, is preliminary and incidental to the major part of the treatment, and should not occupy thought to the exclusion of the more important work of knowing God's allness.

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