Article June 24, 1922 Issue

"Spirit is the real"

WILLARD M. GRIMES

The newcomer to Christian Science, knowing, perhaps from personal experience, the many troubles that "flesh is heir to," sometimes hesitates before the new teaching that Spirit is the only reality. Having in the past accepted without question the testimony of the material senses as to what was real, he is inclined to be incredulous regarding the Christian Science classification of certain things as real, and others as unreal. He may be reluctant to accept in full the fundamental declaration in "the scientific statement of being," which Mrs. Eddy has given on page 468 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," that "Spirit is the real and eternal; matter is the unreal and temporal."

In the writer's own experience, it was easier to admit the eternality of what he understood to be Spirit than it was to grasp its reality; and the temporal nature of matter was more apparent than was its unreality. In fact, many material conditions, although recognized as temporary, seemed more present and real than anything connected with spiritual existence, which often seemed very vague and distant. The writer found, however, after some progress in the study of Christian Science, that much of his difficulty lay in a confused idea of what constitutes reality.

It was a help to him, and may help to clarify the situation for others, to find that the word "real" is closely associated with the words "regal" and "royal," all having the same origin. He began to see that the word "real" had become cheapened in his thought through careless usage, and was being employed inaccurately. He began to question whether, after all, there could be anything "real" or "royal" about pain; and, if not, it became plain that it could not be part of the "real" or "royal" man.

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Article
Spiritual Equipment
June 24, 1922
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit