Article October 21, 1944 Issue

Look through the Illusion of Doubt

CAREY BROWNE

Doubt, with all its unhappy effects, is a phase of human experience which can be eliminated. Too frequently do Christian Scientists allow this interloper to sneak into consciousness and spray a deadening cloud of uncertainty throughout the temple of thought, resulting in delayed healings, vacillating decisions, postponed success. Let us, therefore, look through the illusion of doubt, discover its nothingness, and thereby overcome its influence upon our lives.

Why should we direct thought to the subject of doubt? Because sometimes it gains admission to consciousness under the cloak of a good quality, and, having been so admitted, remains unchallenged. Thus we unknowingly shelter an enemy which carries out much sabotage against the clear thinking to which the Christian Scientist knows he is divinely entitled. Doubt also poses as an obstruction to the achievement of good, but its pose is without substance and fades out in the floodlight of spiritualized consciousness. "The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth." We can read similar affirmations of the power of God again and again in the great book of Psalms.

Turning upon doubt the clear light of faith in God, trust in Biblical statements, and an understanding admission of the facts about God and man revealed by Christian Science, we see this erroneous mental influence for what it really is, namely, aggressive mental suggestion attempting to set up the belief of more than one Mind, one God. It is animal magnetism hypnotically suggesting that we believe that temporarily, at least, Mind, God, has deserted us and is not directing, cherishing us every step of the way—that Mind is not present. We can thank God that we have learned from "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy how to prove the impotence of animal magnetism! There, on page 102, are these words: "Animal magnetism has no scientific foundation, for God governs all that is real, harmonious, and eternal, and His power is neither animal nor human. Its basis being a belief and this belief animal, in Science animal magnetism, mesmerism, or hypnotism is a mere negation, possessing neither intelligence, power, nor reality, and in sense it is an unreal concept of the so-called mortal mind." Being a product of a mere negation, doubt possesses no power, intelligence, or reality; hence we are not compelled to concede it influence in our thought. God, good, is Principle, always present every hour of every day, wherever we are, eternally providing us with the spiritual ideas we need.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Look through the Illusion of Doubt

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access