Article February 5, 1921 Issue

Right Reasoning

LOUISE L. HESSE

In Isaiah we read, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord." Quite naturally one might ask, Of what does this reasoning consist? In the light of Christian Science, the verse takes on an added significance, and a fuller meaning than is usually attributed to it. In one dictionary the word reason, when used as a verb, is given the following definitions: "To argue; to debate; to discourse; to persuade by argument; as, to reason one into a belief or out of a plan." Ordinarily speaking, then, to reason is considered a mental task in which one so-called mind tries to convince another of the truth of a certain stand taken. The weaker is forced to accept the arguments put forth by the stronger, and not always is the result satisfactory to both parties. Yet the argument and debate go on, and the more unanswerable are the arguments which are brought forward, the more successful, of course, is the case on the one hand, and the more hopeless on the other.

In the light of Christian Science, however, which proves conclusively that there is one Mind, not many minds, the joy of reasoning together becomes plainly evident. Instead of reasoning against another person's concept of a situation, the Christian Scientist carries the whole matter into the realm of Mind, where perfect oneness is apparent. The starting point, that all causation is God, good, and that effect must therefore be good also, is so simple in its nature that there is no need to persuade, to argue, or to debate. God is, and it is not difficult to convince a hearer of the fact, for he must see that since man exists (which he will not gainsay) God, the cause of all, must have existed before him; and since creation would collapse without the infinite Mind to sustain it, God must be that Mind and must still exist "from everlasting to everlasting."

To the unenlightened these truths must be stated simply, confidently, and lovingly before they can be seen as true and applicable to everyday problems. To one unused to proving constantly that God's infinite power is ever operative, and that to feel the benefits of its operation one need only turn to God, some of the statements a Christian Scientist would be apt to make might seem improbable or even untrue. How carefully, then, should we take each step, sure that no statement is misunderstood, and that the listener does not feel that he is being forced to accept the Scientist's viewpoint merely because the latter displays a superior argumentative power. An advantage that is gained in any such manner is no advantage at all, for unless the listener can say with confidence: "Why, yes, that is true. I see now the reason for existence," we have not reasoned together in the true sense of the word. But when each step in our reasoning is acknowledged as being true and altogether in accord with the ideal that may have been glimpsed at rare moments of uplifted thought, our case is won. Such reasoning together is blessed by God, and results in happiness and increased spirituality for all concerned. True happiness, however, can result only when our reasoning acknowledges God as infinite Mind, the one and only cause. When this is done, we lose all sense of mortal self, and our increased spirituality and better health attest the efficacy of our reasoning. On page 494 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy says, "Reason, rightly directed, serves to correct the errors of corporeal sense." The understanding of God's presence is sure to mean true rejoicing.

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