Article October 31, 1936 Issue

True Patriotism

CARL WALTER GEHRING

A dictionary defines "patriostism" as "love of country; devotion to the welfare of one's country;" and a "patriot" as "one who loves his country and zealously supports its authority and interests." He loves the traditions and history of his fatherland, the land of this forefathers.

What is fatherland, scientifically understood, in the terms of Christian Science? It is the land of the Father, man's real Father, namely, God. Therefore, the Christianly scientific patriot is one who loves the land of his Father, God, in which live all God's children, all having the same Father. But since God expresses fatherhood to all creation, the scientifically enlightened patriot loves all mankind, not just a single nation and its citizens.

The worldly view of patriotism is not the truly Christian point of view. Today many nations are building a stronger and stronger sense of nationalistic patriotism. This nationalistic patriotism, followed to a logical conclusion, would lead to a repudiation of Christianity. Why? Because Jesus the Christ taught universal brotherhood. Can one think of Jesus as of this or that nation? Of Jewish birth and training, he revealed and exemplified the Christ, the Saviour of mankind.

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