Editorial September 21, 1935 Issue

Influence and Control

George Shaw Cook

Many mortals believe themselves at times to be controlled by influences outside of themselves which they are powerless to resist. For example, many believe they are controlled by circumstances. Millions, especially in recent years, have accepted the belief that they were the unwilling victims of economic conditions over which they themselves had no control, but which were able to dominate them and their affairs. Many have acquiesced in the suggestion of unemployment, and consequent lack and depletion, because of their belief that something called business depression, for which they themselves were not responsible, had been able to determine their financial status.

Other thousands, yes, millions, of mortals have succumbed to disease and death because of the erroneous belief that they were victims of what is called hereditary tendency. Others, again, have believed themselves subject to spiritualistic obsession and control of "departed spirits" through what is known as mediumship. Still other millions of mortals, especially in the Orient, have erroneously believed themselves subject to what is called planetary influence and have unresistingly submitted to the operation of the so-called laws of astrology, which claim to regulate their affairs, determine their health, or the lack of it, their success, or the absence of it; and to control their destiny.

All this Christian Science declares and demonstrates to be utterly and entirely without basis in Truth. Christian Science reminds us that Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." He acknowledged no influence, power, government, or control other than that of his heavenly Father, divine Mind. Thus he was able to annul the operation of so-called material laws, to free mortals from the effects of heredity, to uncover and destroy the beliefs of superstition, ignorance, and fear.

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