Article May 2, 1931 Issue

On Being Original

ELIZABETH B. WEIR

At religious gatherings one sometimes hears of those who have experienced a change of heart. No religion could call for a greater change than does Christian Science, for it demands a change of heart or thought from a belief in a material origin to the understanding of man's spiritual origin. Consider the word "origin," the understanding of which is vital in Christian Science. From it we have the adjective "original," which Mrs. Eddy uses in describing the Master as "this original man, Jesus" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 286).

People are sometimes termed original because they say and do things that differ from the sayings and doings of others. The word is generally used in a complimentary sense, as though the person were the originator of unusual ideas or acts. But when outstanding acts and ideas differ very much from commonly accepted modes, the epithets applied are not usually of a commendatory nature. Thus, when Jesus lived his life on earth his unusual acts and conversation called forth such strong statements as, "Thou hast a devil."

If we take the meaning of the word "original" in another sense also, Jesus was more original than others because he had no earthly father. Thus he was more aware of his real origin as a child of God. He was also aware of the great fact that he could do nothing without God, but that with God he could do all things. He knew that God was the only creator or originator. His life, therefore, was a life of submission to the divine will.

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Dominion
May 2, 1931
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