Article August 19, 1933 Issue

On Knowing God

E. HOWARD HOOPER

There is one great essential to individual happiness, health, and right activity, namely, a correct knowledge of God. What we believe God to be largely determines what we think, do, and say; and as we analyze our thoughts, motives, and acts, we shall find this to be true. The individual who believes that he can obtain health, happiness, substance, and independence by material means is working from a false basis, and consequently is not finding that which he is seeking. In order that he may experience these desirable conditions, he must correct his erroneous beliefs by means of a right concept of God and man's relationship to Him. His experience, therefore, will be joyous and successful in proportion as it is built upon a correct, demonstrable knowledge of God, the Supreme Being.

In the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," in commenting on the words of Jesus, "This is life eternal," Mary Baker Eddy writes (p. 410), "He defines everlasting life as a present knowledge of his Father and of himself,—the knowledge of Love, Truth, and Life." Thus, we see that one's individual realization of eternal life is determined by one's knowledge of God and of Christ Jesus; in fact, this knowledge or understanding is one's life. In human experience one's motives, aims, ideals, and purposes exemplify in some degree one's concept of God.

According to the Bible we are commanded: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.... Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." In order to love God it is essential first to know Him, for we cannot love that which we do not know. Therefore, in order to fulfill this commandment we must first learn something of the nature and character of God and His idea.

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