Article August 24, 1918 Issue

Christian Science distinguishes completely between the...

Judge Clifford P. Smith

Jamaica (British West Indies) Times

Christian Science distinguishes completely between the real, ideal man and the human or mortal sense of man. For this purpose and for every purpose it distinguishes between ultimate or absolute reality and mere appearance, semblance, or illusion. Acknowledging God as the origin of all that really is, Christian Science does not find an origin for aught else, but consistently denies that anything which is not of God can have an origin or real existence. On page 300 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy says, "The mirage, which makes trees and cities seem to be where they are not, illustrates the illusion of material man, who cannot be the image of God."

In this connection Christian Science points out that Christianity was originally based on the truth or reality of being. Its basic requirement was the knowledge of the truth concerning God and man, "the truth" denoting absolute reality as opposed to what is merely apparent, seeming, or false. Attention is drawn to sayings of the Master, such as the following: "For this cause came I into the world, that I should bear withness unto the truth." "I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly." "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Such sayings, one of which is quoted from the Revised Version, imply that the human or mortal sense of life is false, and they imply that abundant and eternal life is to be gained by finding and realizing the truth of being.

The human situation was stated by John in these words: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be." He did not mean that we shall ever be different from what we really are. He meant that we are the sons of God, though the reality of being doth not yet appear. He did not foresee a loss of identity; he discerned the realization of true identity. Mrs. Eddy has consistently said (Science and Health, p. 69): "The real, ideal man appears in proportion as the false and material disappears;" and (p. 476), "Mortals will disappear, and immortals, or the children of God, will appear as the only and eternal verities of man."

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