Editorial February 12, 1927 Issue

Conquering Fear

Duncan Sinclair

Fear is the archenemy of mankind. It fain would dog the footsteps of every member of the human race from the cradle onwards, and is the apparent cause of untold suffering. Fear, which tends to paralyze both mental and physical activity, is, moreover, the chief source of disease, and the main factor in its propagation and continuance. Mrs. Eddy indirectly asserts this when she writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 368), "When fear disappears, the foundation of disease is gone." How to get rid of fear, then, should surely be to everyone a most important subject for consideration.

Since fear is a state of consciousness, it would be useless to try to get rid of it through material means. No one believes that a drug can reach what men call the seat of intelligence and alter the emotions, the feelings, the thoughts. A drug may be believed to stupefy consciousness, or even to induce unconsciousness, and so for a time to paralyze thought; but as soon as it loses to human belief its power, the old feelings and sensations return. Material means are futile in dealing with mental conditions. Obviously, then, these conditions must be dealt with in some other way.

The Psalmist more than hints at the method when he says, "In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me." One may wonder just what the Psalmist means by this statement regarding his trust in God; one sees, however, that it must have been dependent on what God was understood by him to be. And God must have been understood by the Psalmist as worthy of his trust before he could have reposed it in Him; and his trust it was that raised him above fear. At this point the question presents itself, What then is the nature of God, whom to trust is to be relieved of fear?

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

Agreeing with Our Adversary