Article September 12, 1931 Issue

Signs of the Times

with contributions from Charles W. J. Tennant, Lester H. Clee, J. H. Ward, D. Lechmere Anderson, Arthur John Chapman, Eugene Flipse

[From "A Christian Scientist's View," by Charles W. J. Tennant, C. S. B., an article published in the Spectator, London, England, under the heading, "The Idea of God — XI"]

The question, "What is the Christian Scientist's idea of God?" is answered by Mary Baker Eddy on page 465 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," in the following words: "God is incorporeal, divine, supreme, infinite Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love." God is also understood to be omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.

In mortal existence, however, we seem to be conscious of a state of mortality. We appear to be temporal, having birth, maturity, decay, death, and to possess a human mind which views things from the standpoint of the five physical, finite senses. Our vision is limited in every direction. . . . Our concept of Deity . . . expresses our own limited, finite beliefs; and each individual must necessarily have a different concept. Now there must be true . . . idea of Deity which is available to mankind, for we are told in John 17:3, "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." The true idea of God must be God's idea of Himself, since God is infinite Mind. . . .

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