Editorial July 5, 1930 Issue

Attitude toward Evil

Clifford P. Smith

Nothing distinguishes the normal Christian Scientist more distinctly than his attitude toward evil. He neither ignores it, nor regards it as a real something. He neither slights its seeming threat, nor fears it in any way. He neither speaks of it without a proper occasion, nor is unwilling to heed a friendly admonition or caution. He is neither disposed to do evil, nor disposed to justify a failure to avoid it. He neither regards it as a person, nor fails to discriminate it from man. Above all else, the normal Christian Scientist acknowledges and consistently endeavors to demonstrate "the true idea,—the supremacy and reality of good, the nothingness and unreality of evil" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 205).

The Master may have referred to the true attitude toward error when he said, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matthew 7:13, 14). Surely, the scientific position concerning the seeming opposite of good will help one to keep in the way which is open as well as straight.

There is one aspect of error, professedly religious, that seems to present peculiar difficulties for more than a few Christian Scientists. We differ in estimating its effect and persistence with persons who have been connected with it. Indeed, some Christian Scientists seem to believe that the influence of this evil with any person once connected with it is permanent and cannot be severed. Experience and observation have shown that some evils are more deceptive and persistent than others. Thus, an evil which employs fear and claims to be good is apt to deceive and persist with persons of a submissive type. Yet, Christian Science denies that error of any kind has dominion or possesses subjects. The consistent Christian Scientist may be cautious, he must be wise; but he is not superstitious.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

Choosing and Refusing