Editorial May 4, 1940 Issue

Representation

George Shaw Cook

A representation of a person or thing may be defined as a likeness, image, portraiture, or reproduction. Thus, for example, a picture or a statue is a representation of a person. But while the picture or statue may satisfactorily represent the corporeality of a person, it cannot adequately represent the quality of his thinking. Obviously one's thinking is best represented in words and works which reveal one's thoughts. Thus, the best likeness of a man is found in his words and deeds, and since these are motivated by thought, the best likeness is seen to be essentially mental.

On page 587 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, defines "God" in part as follows: "Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love;" and on page 591 she defines "man" as "the compound idea of infinite Spirit; the spiritual image and likeness of God; the full representation of Mind." It will be seen, then, that man as the likeness of God, or His full representation, is that which completely and exactly represents the nature, character, and essence of divine Mind.

Since man is the full or complete representation, likeness, or image of God, there is nothing existing as an idea or thought of divine Mind that is not included in man; hence Mrs. Eddy says of man (ibid., p. 475) that "he is the compound idea of God, including all right ideas." And the ideas which man includes as the reflection of God, or divine Mind, are as perfect in quality as the Mind conceiving them. Each and every idea of Spirit, God, has its indestructible identity, and expresses such divine qualities as individuality, immortality, spirituality, indivisibility, usefulness, goodness, harmony. The sum total of these ideas constitutes Mind's full representation.

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