Editorial March 2, 1918 Issue

Truth Versus Human Opinion

William P. McKenzie

Whenever a man in any age comes into agreement with Truth the result is peace of mind. The finding of Truth is the discovery of harmony, because it is the escape into reality out of the discordant conditions of human beliefs. Mrs. Eddy says (Science and Health, p. 276): "Material beliefs and spiritual understanding never mingle. The latter destroys the former. Discord is the nothingness named error. Harmony is the somethingness named Truth."

If men lack harmony, then it is because they are not governed by Principle, not acquainted with Truth, but pulled and thrust about in darkness by human opinions and confused by the clamor of doctrines and dogmas. Human opinions have the character of the ignis fatuus, or fool's fire, that dances over the marsh promising guidance to the wayfarer, which following he finds himself lost in the mire. There is no definite oneness to rest in, but always the flitting about of many beliefs and theories calling, arguing, contending. An ancient proverb says sententiously, So many men, just as many opinions; and these opinions being unrelated to reality, not only change with different persons, but with the same person go through kaleidoscopic alteration.

Let there appear some human need for a definite good, and immediately a difference of opinion will arise as to the means for promoting that good end, and the energy which should go into the work will be wasted in contention. It is exactly as if each human being deified his own opinion and considered it as having a religious sacredness. Is not this the very acme of idolatry, in that it is multiplied denial of truth, righteousness, and love? Our textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," makes short work of this human chaos masquerading as the world. We read (p. 399): "Scientifically speaking, there is no mortal mind out of which to make material beliefs, springing from illusion. This misnamed mind is not an entity. It is only a false sense of matter, since matter is not sensible. The one Mind, God, contains no mortal opinions. All that is real is included in this immortal Mind."

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