Editorial November 14, 1931 Issue

Divine, Human, Mortal

Clifford P. Smith

To get the best results from the study and practice of Christian Science, we who are adherents of this Science should not only distinguish what is mortal from what is human, but we should also distinguish what is mortal or human from what is divine. According to a dictionary, the primary meaning of the word "divine" is "of or pertaining to God;" its secondary meaning is derived or "proceeding from God." In the latter meaning of this word, man is divine. In the absolute fact of being, all that man is or has is divine because it is derived from God. As Christian Scientists, we are accustomed to distinguish what is divine, in one sense of this word, from what is human or mortal, but most of us do not use the word "divine" as meaning derived or "proceeding from God" nearly so much as we might, nor so much as we should.

As regards the adjectives "human" and "mortal," there are contexts in which either of these terms can be used without detriment, but in most contexts one or the other of these words should be chosen according to their different meanings. The primary meaning of the word "human" is "of or pertaining to ... mankind," but the primary meaning of "mortal" is "subject to death." This difference deserves more attention from Christian Scientists than it commonly has had. In absolute thought, we must regard ourselves as divine; in daily life we have many occasions to regard ourselves as human; but we should never allow ourselves to admit that we are "subject to death." As a mental practice, it is exceedingly important that we should consistently and continually claim the right of immortality declared by Christianity and its Science. The Master spoke to mankind when he said, "If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death" (John 8:51).

Mrs. Eddy does not always distinguish between what is human and what is mortal, but she does this as occasions require. Thus she teaches consistently and uniformly that the human self must be healed and improved, protected and spiritualized, by the control and elimination of mortal mind or material sense, until the selfhood which remains is entirely and exclusively divine; that is, derived from God. (See "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" 251:15, including the marginal heading; 254:19; 531:10; 595:17.) The basis of this process and progress must be the comprehension of God as the divine Principle of man. As Mrs. Eddy has said, "Sooner or later the human race will learn that, in proportion as the spotless selfhood of God is understood, human nature will be renovated, and man will receive a higher selfhood, derived from God, and the redemption of mortals from sin, sickness, and death be established on everlasting foundations" (Unity of Good, p. 6).

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