Editorial September 22, 1917 Issue

Material Beliefs Destroyed

William D. McCrackan

Popular opinion finds it difficult to admit that what are generally called material facts are nothing more substantial than material beliefs. To the uninstructed mentality there is something deceptive in the apparent solidity and stubbornness of matter, but Christian Science by the irresistible logic of its teachings wipes away the false appearance and reveals the reality of Mind, carrying out the Scriptural statement that "the flesh profiteth nothing."

Therefore every student of Christian Science begins by degrees to separate Mind from matter, and to recognize that the latter, including all its manifestations, belongs to the realm of belief and not to that of understanding. Moreover, there is likewise a supposed mind, which indulges in belief, and which the Discoverer of Christian Science has named mortal mind. At the same time it must be recognized that naming a falsity does not make it true; hence the name mortal mind does not stand for a reality, but for an illusion. Mrs. Eddy has written, "Scientifically speaking, there is no mortal mind out of which to make material beliefs, springing from illusion" (Science and Health p. 399)

The false beliefs of mortals carry one into suffering, sin, and death, whereas the mental correction resulting from spiritual understanding gently leads one high above seeming human causes into the one great cause, God, from whom true intelligence is derived. Many evil human beliefs are admitted to be normal, such as trials, bodily suffering, financial troubles, misunderstandings, and martyrdoms; consequently the human consciousness provides for a repetition of these experiences until they assume the likeness of fate and go unchallenged. In this manner discouraged human beings are often wearied and bowed down into burden bearers, when they might rather be stepping forth in the panoply of freedom. With this habit of resignation to material beliefs comes the further one of self-condemnation, and yet properly conceived self-condemnation may be understood as the condemning of the material beliefs to their essential nothingness, thus subserving the ends of good.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

Among the Churches