Article December 26, 1936 Issue

A Changing Order

NORTON WEBB

On all sides men and women are pondering and discussing what is deemed to be a changing order. Earnest and deep longing for a genuinely satisfactory answer as to what is really taking place in the world, is evidenced by the immense number of books and other publications being placed before the public with the aim to furnish such an answer. Some of these may throw a glimmer of light on the problem, while many leave one more puzzled than before. A genuine, comprehensive, and satisfactory answer comes forth from none of them.

The only full enlightenment that a sincere seeker for an explanation of the phenomena of these times can receive, is through the study of Christian Science. In a sermon delivered long before the present era of change, entitled "Christian Healing," the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, made this statement (p. 11): "We are in the midst of a revolution; physics are yielding slowly to metaphysics; mortal mind rebels at its own boundaries; weary of matter, it would catch the meaning of Spirit." These words are forcibly true today. Considered in the light of recent world events, they furnish a remarkably clear reason for crumbling orders and show that nothing can endure which reposes on a material basis. They also indicate that stable order must rest on Spirit and spiritual thinking, and that men have now begun to reach out for such a change. Christian Science plainly shows that unless this be done, suffering, want, and woe will continue as the externalization of false beliefs.

Exposing the unreal and illusory nature of material beliefs and their supposed origin, and showing the method of getting rid of them by replacing them with spiritual, true ideas, are important features in the teaching of Christian Science. Here is an illuminating sentence from page 12 of the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by our Leader: "Changes in belief may go on indefinitely, but they are the merchandise of human thought and not the outgrowth of divine Science." It is easy to perceive from this the harm men do to themselves by doggedly following human beliefs as so-called waymarks to progress. Often a mere change from one mortal belief to another is thought to constitute an advance. Just because something appears to be new, for example, it is looked upon as progressive, although it may be only some old, erroneous belief dressed up in a new garb.

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