Editorial February 24, 1917 Issue

God as Principle

Annie M. Knott

One student of Christian Science recently remarked to another that Christian Scientists sometimes seem to overlook the great importance of understanding divine Principle as the basis of all their work. The speaker added that she had observed in many cases that a lack in this direction on the part of students and workers was responsible for imperfect results, and that we should all be more alive to this vitally important question. The one addressed was led to think upon the statement on page 465 of Science and Health, namely, "God is incorporeal, divine, supreme, infinite Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love."

Those unacquainted with Mrs. Eddy's teachings would perhaps readily admit that God is supreme, but they would doubtless pause before giving their assent to the use of the word Principle as applied to Deity. It happens, however, that even some who have been helped in Christian Science at first shrink from the application of the term Principle to God. They have been accustomed to think of principle as an unconscious law operating throughout the universe and affecting man to an unknown extent; but they have also thought of principle as multiplied into principles and have not seen its relation to the divine nature and hence to man as God's likeness.

At the same time it is encouraging to note that, even where Christian Science is not understood, "a man of principle" is placed high above others; and rightly so, because this would hint at a man of unswerving rectitude and purity of character, which all Christian Scientists love to think upon. As students advance in understanding, however, they see more and more the importance of applying their understanding of divine Principle to all they think and say and do, and they soon discover that this calls for mighty efforts toward the spiritualizing of all their concepts of existence.

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