Editorial June 3, 1922 Issue

The Futility of Human Warfare

Duncan Sinclair

The more one learns of Christian Science, the more one is convinced of the unchristian nature of all forms of human warfare. In the days when the great Hebrew lawgiver wrote the Ten Commandments at the dictation of God, divine Principle, the people had advanced no farther than "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth,"—he that used the sword must perish by the sword. That was their highest sense of justice. And this attitude persisted until, in the line of spiritual development, he came who was able to show the people a better way, a far higher way, based on an understanding of God unknown to those who had preceded him.

It was Christ Jesus who, in the Sermon on the Mount, spoke the last word on the iniquity of reprisals: "I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." "I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven." And the Savior ended this part of his wonderful address, focusing what he had said, in the words, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

The teaching of Christian Science leaves one in no doubt as to what the highest attitude should be toward the question of the warfare of the carnal mind. Christian Science declares with absolute certainty that God, good, is the only reality and the only power. In consequence, it maintains that evil is unreal and powerless. Every one who takes up the study of Christian Science in earnest is at once brought into touch with these fundamental propositions, revolutionary in their nature, because the demonstration of them by mankind would mean the complete regeneration of the world. What bearing have they on the question at issue? Surely it is obvious. The instinct to fight, which is inherent in the so-called human mind, is an attribute of evil. If it be believed that evil is as real as good, it follows that there will be conflict. And not only will there be conflict between the power of good and the supposititious belief called evil, but evil itself, in the process of its disintegration or destruction, will seem to war with itself. That is what is happening in the world. Evil claims to have existence. In support of this false claim it is, in belief, fighting mentally, and apparently at times physically, with the divine Principle, good. The result is, however, a foregone conclusion; but the conclusion will not be consummated until the whole human race understands the omnipotence of good.

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