Article October 7, 1916 Issue

Bondage Ended

ROLAND L. STRAUSS

ON page 227 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy writes, "The law of the divine Mind must end human bondage," and again a little farther on she says, "Slavery is not the legitimate state of man." Considering bondage or slavery in a broad sense, it is clear that sin, sickness, and death, as well as imprisonment and the personal domination of individuals or nations over one another, are some of the apparent conditions which enslave men. A further analysis of the cause of these conditions shows primarily the existence of an erroneous belief that man can think, plan, or do something independent or irrespective of God, good. The extent of bondage, therefore, is proportionate to one's belief that there is a power which can work in opposition to the perfect law of divine Mind, which is just, pure, complete, and most harmonious.

The writer had the glorious privilege of learning through Christian Science of the real man's birthright of freedom. He also became convinced that the condition of bondage or imprisonment results from the same lie which has seemingly deceived mankind for centuries, when he had the opportunity of assisting in introducing Christian Science services in one of our state prisons. It was found that each prisoner had a special reason or excuse for the condition in which he found himself. While the experiences of these men appeared to be different, yet it was quite evident that the cause in each particular case was the same, namely, they thought that they could think, plan, do, or accomplish something which was not good or Christlike, which was not of God, or that God was not capable of sustaining them in their endeavor to do good.

When this faulty condition of thinking is removed from any negative human experience, it will be found that life in God presents unlimited freedom, overflowing joy, permanent peace, and a realization of ever-present Love. The truth is that the man of God's creating can not and does not exist without God, and if God is all-power and fills all space, how can man, made in the image and likeness of God, good, really express himself in any other way than as he sees the Father do? We read that Jesus said, "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise."

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