Editorial May 26, 1917 Issue

Neither Law nor Gospel

Archibald McLellan

One of the most subtle beliefs of mortal mind is that which declares that there is a well defined law of heredity to which all mankind is subject, not only in individual matters, but also in family, communal, racial, and national affairs. Because of the prevalence and acceptance of this belief, untold suffering has been experienced. Both Jeremiah and Ezekiel prophesied against the continuance of the saying in Israel that because the fathers had eaten sour grapes the children's teeth should be set on edge, but notwithstanding their definite statements in contravention of this particular conviction, other ridiculous phases of the belief in the so-called law of heredity have continued until the present day.

Perhaps the greatest harm along this line has been done through the belief that certain diseases are hereditary, and that they follow from parent to child as surely as the night follows the day; but when a broader view is taken, it will be found that through the claim of heredity mankind has been as deeply and adversely affected in racial and national affairs as it has been in health. So deeply seated is the belief of transmission of disease from one generation to another, and even "unto the third and fourth generation," that physicians in making a physical examination or diagnosis pay more attention to family history than to almost any other circumstance. To the prominence thus given to the diseases of the fathers and the grandfathers, and to the dwelling upon these as the causes of present suffering, may be attributed much of the fear which enslaves mankind.

Fortunately for humanity Mrs. Eddy has not only definitely denied the supposed power of heredity and exposed the falseness of its claim to lawful power, but in numberless instances she and her followers have proved that this alleged law is not really existent, and certainly no more dangerous to the health and longevity of the human family than are the thousand and one other so-called laws or superstitions which have been lost to memory through enlightenment and the consequent banishment of fear. On page 178 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy writes: "Heredity is not a law. The remote cause or belief of disease is not dangerous because of its priority and the connection of past mortal thoughts with present. The predisposing cause and the exciting cause are mental. ... In proportion to our understanding of Christian Science, we are freed from the belief of heredity, of mind in matter or animal magnetism; and we disarm sin of its imaginary power in proportion to our spiritual understanding of the status of immortal being." She also writes on page 228, "Heredity is a prolific subject for mortal belief to pin theories upon; but if we learn that nothing is real but the right, we shall have no dangerous inheritances, and fleshly ills will disappear."

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