Editorial April 7, 1917 Issue

Uncoiling the Serpent

William D. McCrackan

The present pretense of evil is that it holds the whole world in its grasp. From time immemorial the serpent has typified evil in religious symbolism; therefore the picture suggested today is that of a serpent coiled around a seemingly defenseless globe, and the task of true religion is that of mentally uncoiling this supposititious serpent by spiritual means. Ever since the serpent deceived Adam and Eve it has been playing traitor to the human race considered individually and collectively. Treachery is its particular trade, and this it combines with subtlety, envy, presumption, malignity, and cruel arrogance. In order to discourage the human race from freeing itself, the mentality typified by the serpent seeks to scandalize spiritual benefactors and to falsify their life motives. It expresses itself in the Pharisees to whom the Master said, "Ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them." It plays Judas to Jesus, and when found out hangs itself in order that the nothingness of its belief of life in matter may be evident to all men.

Among the twelve tribes of Israel, which may be taken to symbolize all mortal beliefs, Dan stands for treachery. His father Jacob described him as "a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward." Mrs. Eddy interprets Dan in the Glossary of Science and Health as "animal magnetism; so called mortal mind controlling mortal mind; error, working out the designs of error; one belief preying upon another." In national affairs this serpent mentality acts as a thorn in the side of every honest government, fomenting insurrection and drilling its battalions on the sly, so that it may take an imperiled people by surprise, and then ask the question, What are you going to do about it? It delights to stir up the dregs of international relations in order to fish in troubled waters. But Dan, who makes his appearance in Genesis, fortunately disappears in Revelation, where his place is taken by Manasseh, proving that inspiration guided by Science is equal to the task of driving out animal magnetism, and that there is abundant hope for all men and nations.

The pretended serpent likewise takes every opportunity to argue man's incompleteness, and so creates the ridiculous belief of the male who is a tyrant and the pathetic figure of the woman who is a slave. As it coils itself around the world in the guise of male domination, the serpent adds continually to the already long list of bad habits. It tries to substitute strong drink for the milk of human kindness, and the fumes of mesmerism for the inspiration of right ideas. It offers militarism instead of the protection of spiritual understanding, politics instead of statesmanship, suspicion and withholding instead of fearless giving. In the church, male domination ultimates in hierarchies and burns heretics, leaving woman to pay for its salaries and spires by her work and her faith in God. Through the present world war humanity is learning the hollow pretense of a one-sided humanity, the nations are becoming sobered from their so-called national drink, and the way is opening for woman's inspiration to direct, govern, and save the world.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Uncoiling the Serpent

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access