Article October 26, 1946 Issue

Why Analyze Error?

WILLIAM R. NEEDLES

The belief that man is a corporeal person made up of organic matter has resulted in the generally accepted theory that his health and activity depend upon a material body. And this leads to the opinion accepted by some that every so often it is necessary for him to have a so-called physical checkup in order to find out if there is anything wrong that needs attention. Today many corporations and business firms require an applicant to submit to a physical examination before he is employed or his application finally considered.

Christian Science approaches man's well-being in an entirely different manner. It reveals through its teaching that instead of being a corporeal person made up of organic matter, man is, in his real being, spiritual, made in the image and likeness of God, as the Scriptures declare. Thus as the image and likeness of God, Spirit, man is inorganic, of the substance of Mind. In "Rudimental Divine Science" Mrs. Eddy writes (p. 7): "In Science, man is the manifest reflection of God, perfect and immortal Mind. He is the likeness of God; and His likeness would be lost if inverted or perverted." This illuminating statement of our Leader's reveals that as the "manifest" reflection of God, "man is theexpression of God's being" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 470). As such he directly shows forth the qualities of Life, Truth, and Love, expressed in health, freedom, and perfect being. Thus man's intactness and well-being are forever established, since he has always been the expression of God, perfect divine Being.

As the student of Christian Science progressively identifies himself as spiritual idea, as the perfect expression of Spirit, he will increasingly experience liberation from all the ills that flesh is heir to. However, when confronted with some problem that does not yield readily, he may be tempted to think its solution depends upon analyzing the error or digging about to find its cause.

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