Editorial July 11, 1931 Issue

Divine Energy

Clifford P. Smith

Last November, Sir Arthur Eddington, famous for his knowledge of astronomy and physics, delivered an address to an international radio audience of great size. He is professor of astronomy at Cambridge University, and is the author of books on gravitation, relativity, space, time, the structure of the universe, and the nature of the world. According to press reports of the address just mentioned, the speaker gave his concept of God as "Him through whom comes power and guidance," and he said further that "the spiritual element in our experience is the creative element." Such expressions as these from a learned man whose studies might conduce to material views evidently deserve respect. They should help to annul atheism, dispel doubt, confirm faith, and contribute to genuine understanding.

It is to be observed that Sir Arthur Eddington expressed more than a merely general faith in God. He spoke particularly; he spoke of divine action or energy, of its nature, and of its importance in human experience. These points are especially noteworthy, because activity or energy is prominent in astronomy and physics, and because cosmic activity or energy, as taught in astronomy and physics, is apt to be material and Mindless. Presumably, the foregoing quotations do not contain all the speaker's religious views; but, so far as these quotations go, they are agreeable to Christian Scientists. In Christian Science teaching, creative activity or energy is a major subject; it is one which is highly important to the comprehension and the practice of this religion.

The earliest meaning of the word "create" was this: "To bring into being, cause to exist; especially, to produce where nothing was before, 'to form out of nothing' " (Oxford English Dictionary). This word still has the latter meaning for many people. History shows, however, that this meaning was based on the two accounts of creation in Genesis, as construed literally and without distinguishing between them. All devout people agree that the first account (generally regarded as including Genesis 1:1 to 2:3) is a writing of great spiritual value. More and more people also agree that it should be distinguished from the ensuing account, that it should not be construed literally, and that it should be interpreted spiritually in accordance with the highest concept of infinite Being. Neither space nor time nor any material concept should be allowed to obscure the true meaning of this beautiful, inspired, and spiritual writing.

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