Article June 3, 1944 Issue

Knowing God as Father-Mother

HILMA CAESAR FARISS

Our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, often uses the title Father-Mother God when referring to the Supreme Being. In most churches God is usually thought of as Father alone. In Mrs. Eddy's spiritual interpretation of the Lord's Prayer, on pages 16 and 17 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," the opening line of the prayer, "Our Father which art in heaven," reads, "Our Father-Mother God, all-harmonious."

Since God is all-inclusive, embracing both the feminine and the masculine qualities, this term is fitting; because all that is God's is likewise possessed by His reflection.

On page 470 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy says, "Man is the expression of God's being." Therefore man expresses all the tenderness, meekness, humility, patience, understanding, gentleness of Deity. In equal measure he possesses courage, strength, power, acumen, consideration, together with all other qualities often regarded as masculine. In the light of Christian Science, one will see that he is, in belief, limiting God if he admits lack of good —lack of any God-quality. If he admits a deficiency of courage or perhaps of tenderness in his being, he is limiting the perfection of his individuality. There can be no shortage, division, or discrimination in God's idea of Himself. God does not discriminate. He gives to each of His ideas all that is essential to its individual perfectness.

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