Editorial November 13, 1943 Issue

Realism

Evelyn F. Heywood

In Christian Science, realism and idealism are one, but generally they are regarded as opposites. The realist is thought of as one who faces facts, however grim, without evasion or deception; whereas the idealist is said to live in a rosy Utopia of desire. "Idealists," it has been stated in confirmation of this view, "make a great mistake in not facing the real facts sincerely and resolutely. ...It is the realist and not the idealist who is generally justified by events."

But is not this a definition of the visionary, rather than the idealist? All easy and superficial optimism, all taking as accomplished that which must first be earned and held, is without substance. It does not envisage the truly ideal, and is very far from the real.

Nothing assuredly could have been more realistic than Christ Jesus' prophecy of what would overtake a world unwilling to build on the foundation of Spirit, taking its own way in gross neglect of God. Jesus was in all things a realist, but also his sublime idealism never forsook him. He declared that the kingdom of heaven was in their midst; he proved it in the realism of his deeds, healing and delivering mankind. He sanctioned no ignoring of the evil which to the human mind appears real. On the contrary, he showed that it is overcome by the realism which Truth bestows. He said of his disciples, "In my name... they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Casting out devils, taking up serpents, healing sickness in the name of Truth, are the proofs that the individual has brought to human experience the realism and idealism which are divinely one.

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