Editorial May 16, 1925 Issue

True Idealism

Albert F. Gilmore

If idealism be defined as the holding to and practice of the highest ideals, then Christian Science is true idealism. Above all other forms of religion and philosophy, it holds to the perfect ideals existing in God's kingdom, the kingdom of Spirit, as the state of reality. Surprise is often expressed at the deep devotion of Christian Scientists to their religion. The explanation is found in the fact that one loves his ideals, because they constitute his highest concept of reality, toward the attainment of which, if he be honest, he bends his best effort. A line of Tennyson's puts it precisely: "We needs must love the highest when we see it." Then, to see the highest inspires the purest love.

Christian Science puts before mankind the true idealism because its precepts relate to God, His infinity and perfection, and the spiritual creation, including man. What higher ideals could be conceived by mortals than those which deal with perfection, revealing God as Love, as Life, as Truth, and man as the expression of divinity, possessed of no quality underived from a perfect Father-Mother God? Under the marginal heading, "Pure religion enthroned," on page 571 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy in her inimitable style sets forth the purpose of revelation, in contrasting the false mortal concepts with the true ideas of divine Mind. "Through trope and metaphor," she says, "the Revelator, immortal scribe of Spirit and of a true idealism, furnishes the mirror in which mortals may see their own image." And later we read, "With his spiritual strength, he has opened wide the gates of glory, and illumined the night of paganism with the sublime grandeur of divine Science, outshining sin, sorcery, lust, and hypocrisy." Our Leader saw in the exalted vision of the beloved disciple the contrast between the true and the false set forth with such telling effect as to turn the beholder forever from the contemplation of matter and its futile claims and promises, its fleeting and ephemeral pleasures, to the glowing facts of timeless Being, to the beauties and joys which are fadeless and true, which are permanent and perfect. What perfect idealism is this!

Christian Science, supplementing the teaching of the Nazarene and the revelation of John, presents true idealism to a waiting world in terms wholly practicable, possible of immediate realization and demonstration. In answer to the oft-repeated charge that the teachings of Christ Jesus present an idealism altogether Utopian, having no possibility of realization in mundane affairs, is the challenge of Christian Science, which both makes the claim and offers the proof that the precepts of the Master not alone present the highest ideals but that their practicability is capable of proof in the daily round of life. The "pure in heart" shall "see God;" "Blessed are the peacemakers;" "Thy sins be forgiven thee;" "Rise up and walk;" "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more," are examples of an idealism so pure, of spiritual understanding so profound, that it overcame the false conditions which seemed so realistic to the earth-bound, revealing to them, at least, a fleeting glimpse of the glory that is to be,—even of the glory which is now for those prepared to receive it.

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