Editorial March 25, 1922 Issue

Spiritual Sense

Duncan Sinclair

One of the things for which Christian Scientists are deeply grateful is the revelation which Christian Science has brought to them of the existence of spiritual sense. Before studying the subject, probably the great majority of them were aware only of what are called the material senses. These senses had been cultivated by many educational processes until the object of their attention—so-called matter—loomed so large as to obscure almost entirely, if not completely, the universe of Spirit or Mind. It is no exaggeration to say that is how it stands with the majority of humanity to-day. They believe without questioning almost everything the material senses seem to tell them; and they are unaware of the existence of the great heritage possessed by man—spiritual sense.

Now, spiritual sense is the sense which cognizes spiritual truth; it is the sense through which the nature of God and His spiritual creation become known, man's relationship to God is revealed, and spiritual law, the law which establishes and supports this relationship, becomes apparent in its being and operation. In Christian Science there is no doubting the evidence and value of spiritual sense. It is looked upon as the greatest asset that can be possessed, because it enables mankind to rise superior to the material senses with all their limiting beliefs, and because it can be utilized at all times in securing the divine guidance which all require and for which so many yearn.

On page 209 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy defines spiritual sense in the words: "Spiritual sense is a conscious, constant capacity to understand God." No dubiety there as to the capacity of spiritual sense! It is conscious and constant. It is the spiritual faculty which man possesses whereby he understands God, is conscious of reality; in other words, whereby man comprehends Truth, not spasmodically but with constancy. Christ Jesus plainly pointed to it when, on the occasion of the comforting of his disciples before he left them, he said: "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth." Spiritual sense needs to be used by mankind; and the more it is used the greater will become the facility in its use, and the wider the field of truth it can explore.

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