Editorial February 16, 1929 Issue

Error's Nothingness

Duncan Sinclair

The student of Christian Science often marvels at the courage of Mrs. Eddy, she who discovered Christian Science and founded the Christian Science movement. Before her great discovery, like many another Christian, Mrs. Eddy admitted in a general way the allness of God; but it was she who discovered what the allness of God implied, namely, the fact that good is infinite and evil unreal. After the discovery there ensued numerous demonstrations on her part of these facts, in the destruction of many of the evil or erroneous beliefs which externalize themselves in what men call disease and sin; and thus did Mrs. Eddy prove conclusively that the understanding of the allness of good and of the unreality of evil destroys these afflictions.

Mrs. Eddy's discovery cannot be overrated: she herself keeps its importance before the reader in every one of her writings on Christian Science. Again and again the truth is stated therein that God, good, is infinite; and constantly the conclusion which she draws from that truth is emphasized, namely, that evil is unreal. And this is done in order that the thought of the student may dwell naturally and habitually on spiritual truth, in order that he may thereby rise above the erroneous beliefs of material sense. Mrs. Eddy saw with great clarity what her discovery meant for mankind. In consequence, she could declare on page 92 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," "Until the fact concerning error—namely, its nothingness—appears, the moral demand will not be met, and the ability to make nothing of error will be wanting."

It is, then, a moral demand to perceive the nothingness of evil. Otherwise, it is not possible scientifically to destroy erroneous conditions, whether of disease or sin. Are Christian Scientists fully awake to the significance of Mrs. Eddy's words just quoted? The temptation is to forget the allness of God, good, and to regard evil as if it were real. Thus evil claims to continue to exercise its destructive influence, undermining the morals, health, happiness, and peace of men. There is but one way to combat this successfully, namely, by the realization of its nothingness. And the realization is brought about through humble prayer and the repeated affirmation of the truth. It is the pure in heart who see God and are able to realize His allness and perfection; it is the pure in heart who, through realizing God's allness, possess "the ability to make nothing of error."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

Enduring Happiness