Editorial December 14, 1929 Issue

Resisting and Overcoming Evil

Duncan Sinclair

On page 446 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy writes, "Resisting evil, you overcome it and prove its nothingness." Here surely is a highly important statement. For who among mortals should not wish to overcome and so prove the nothingness of that which is the world's bane? But, on the other hand, our Leader's words may be regarded by some as the words of a visionary; for, regarding evil as real, they believe it absurd to think that resistance to evil can possibly overcome it and prove its nothingness, although it may serve to check its influence.

Now it were well to consider the Christian Science point of view with regard to evil before sitting in judgment on the words just quoted. And this is not difficult. In her writings Mrs. Eddy makes plain the fact that God is infinite good; and from it she draws the conclusion that evil is unreal, since it is impossible to conceive of the opposite of infinite good existing anywhere as reality. Christian Science deviates not at all from the truth of the allness of God as infinite good and of the unreality of evil. Christian Scientists readily admit that so far they have demonstrated this but to a limited extent. At the same time they are thoroughly convinced of evil's unreality from the overcoming of it in some degree in their own thought and in the thought of others; and they are assured that just as their thoughts are dominated by good, just as they reflect good in their lives, will they be able to overcome all forms of evil belief, thereby proving evil's utter nothingness.

It is difficult to believe that any discovery made to mankind was ever grater than that which seems to evil that unreal — nothing. Evil, that which seems to play such a saddening part in human experience, unreal! All the sin, sorrow, disease, suffering of the world, unreal! Death, unreal! That is what Christian Science teaches; and for the profound yet simple reason that God, good, is infinite. Regarded in the light of absolute Truth, every phase of evil is naught but mortal illusion; and everyone must come to see evil as such if he would help to bring about the false belief.

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