Generally speaking, mortals accept what the material sense tell them. They believe that what they see with their eyes is real; that what their ears report to them is real; that what the sense of touch tells them is real. They believe, on the authority of these senses, that they live in a material body, and that they are cognizant of a vast material universe existing in unfathomable space. The last thing which mortals, spiritually unenlightened, will deny is the evidence of the material senses.

A few sentences on pages 293 and 294 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, entirely reverse the point of view presented to mortals by material sense. They read: "The five physical senses are the avenues and instruments of human error, and they correspond with error. These senses indicate the common human belief, that life, substance, and intelligence are a unison of matter with Spirit. This is pantheism, and carries within itself the seeds of all error." Thus, in Christian Science, the material or physical senses, with which is associated the belief that matter is real and that life is dependent on matter or on a union of matter and Spirit, are regarded as false or erroneous. The senses upon which mortals place such reliance never report anything real, never make known the truth about real being. In testifying as they appear to do about so-called matter, they are deluding mankind. In witnessing to evil and the seeming effects of evil, they are blinding mankind to the truths of perfect spiritual being.

Christian Science is awaking men out of the mesmeric belief in the reality of material sense, changing their viewpoint from matter to Spirit. This may seem a difficult problem; it may even seem to the materialist an impossible one. But the Christian Scientist knows it is not impossible, since all men are in possession of a sense which is real and infallible, namely, spiritual sense. It is spiritual sense which, down through the ages, has made possible every revelation of spiritual truth. It is spiritual sense which has revealed God to men, including His goodness and love for His children, and made known man's relationship to Him. It is spiritual sense which has revealed the law of God, and shown how perfectly it governs His creation. It is spiritual sense which enables us to refute all the arguments of material sense. It is spiritual sense which today is changing, steadily and invincibly, erroneous human viewpoints of every kind. This absolutely reliable sense our revered Leader defines as "a conscious, constant capacity to understand God" (Science and Health, p. 209).

Through Christian Science, then, we know that God is infinite, All; that He is perfect Love, the only Mind. What a revelation is this! And how it refutes the belief that matter or evil is real! How it denies all the apparent derivatives of matter, all the seeming effects of evil! Whenever the fundamental truths which Christian Science reveals are understood, the viewpoints of those who understand them change. And this is regeneration. The errors of material sense may not be overcome in a day, but certain it is that as spiritual truth takes possession of human consciousness, human viewpoints change.

Usually, health is regarded as largely dependent on matter. Rectify some material condition, and healing will result, is the general belief. But, as Christian Science teaches, health is not a condition of matter, but of Mind. Is not God the creator of all reality? Is not His creation perfect? Can perfection change to imperfection? No! Then, in reality there is no imperfect state, no inharmonious consciousness—no ill-health. "Health is not a condition of matter, but of Mind; nor can the material senses bear reliable testimony on the subject of health" (ibid., p. 120). Spiritual sense urges acceptance of the truth that health is a condition of Mind, and therefore cannot be impaired. Thus Christian Science changes entirely the human viewpoint on the question of health.

When a sick person understands the truth that the real man, God's image and likeness, is always in the enjoyment of health, and that sickness is unreal, he throws off the belief of sickness. His changed viewpoint overcomes his erroneous material beliefs, and adjustment of the bodily conditions follows. This is healing. In the case of every student of Christian Science, there is a betterment of health proportionate to his increasing understanding of spiritual truth.

The Psalmist writes (Psalms 34:8; 36:9): "O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him;" "For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light." A beautiful appeal to the sons and daughters of men, to learn of the goodness of God! And Christian Science, elucidating the Science of being, is making God's goodness known as never before, changing false material viewpoints, and giving mankind a spiritual vision which is blessing them beyond human understanding.

Duncan Sinclair