Editorial October 17, 1931 Issue

Human or Mortal

Clifford P. Smith

Although the adjectives "human" and "mortal" can be used interchangeably, what is human can be distinguished from what is mortal, and this distinction has a good reason and a practical value. The primary meaning of "human" is of or pertaining to humanity or mankind, while the primary meanings of "mortal" are causing death and subject to death. Sometimes Mrs. Eddy has employed these words as synonyms, but when the context has called for a distinction, she has used them in accordance with their primary meanings.

In Christian Science, comprehension, practice, progress, and complete salvation are based on the ideas that God and the real man, although distinct, are one in being, and are absolutely good. In substance, these are the basic ideas which Christ Jesus taught and demonstrated. Paul put one of them into this form: "In him [God] we live, and move, and have our being" (Acts 17:28). John expressed the other in these words: "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all;" "As he is, so are we in this world" (I John 1:5; 4:17). Yet, the comprehension shown by at least a few of the Master's immediate followers did not last. Soon a mistaken concept of him and a merely personal sense of what he did and said became prevalent among Christians, and kept them from grasping these basic ideas until Mary Baker Eddy discerned and restated them.

In effect, when Christian Science declares that God and man, although distinct, are one in being, and are absolutely good, this teaching denies that human beings are really what they seem, for they seem to be men existing by themselves and partly subject to evil. This Science does not, however, ignore humanity or mankind, for it is Christian, and the seeming existence of men existing by themselves and partly subject to evil is what presents the need for salvation. This Science, therefore, has come to the rescue of mankind.

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