Article May 7, 1927 Issue

Surrendering to Good

REUBEN S. SIMON

A Christian Scientist on moving to a new locality found a transportation company operating a line of busses in direct and active opposition to the street railway company. A bus regularly followed each street car in the effort to get its patronage. Needless to say, a state of confusion existed between the two companies, and also among their patrons. Finally, however, the bus line sought another route, which resulted in an added convenience to the public, and increased prosperity for both companies. This occurrence portrayed to the Scientist two mental states, the unreal and the real, one aggressive and competitive, the other cooperative and constructive.

In the Glossary of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by our revered Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, Adam is defined, in part, as follows (p. 580): "A so-called finite mind, producing other minds, thus making 'gods many and lords many' (I Corinthians viii. 5)." Students of Christian Science soon learn that it is because of the belief in minds many that what is called the Adamic man labors in confusion; and that it is because of this very confusion he clings to himself as apart from all others, with a seeming mind of his own. He believes that the activity of this mind must prevail to insure his existence, and that he lives, moves, and has his being because of it. Under this belief a concession or surrender to another so-called mind implies weakness, defeat, failure to him; while clinging tenaciously to his own beliefs denotes strength to him. Thus we see that the Adamic belief of man would try to live by personal conquest, surrendering only through force to an adversary.

In considering the real, we find divine Mind defined in part on page 591 of Science and Health thus: "The one God; not that which is in man, but the divine Principle, or God, of whom man is the full and perfect expression;" and man, Mrs. Eddy defines (ibid.) in part as "the full representation of Mind." Thus man is "the full and perfect expression," "the full representation of Mind," God, not having to drift in helpless dependence on a human concept of existence.

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