Article September 28, 1946 Issue

Freedom Is Man's Birthright

SVEND PONTOPPIDAN BROBY

Freedom is the goal of all human striving. True education aims at setting men free from mental bondage. Freedom, as it is conceived in Christian Science, refers to the ability and right of an individual to express his real, spiritual selfhood as a child of God, to free himself from false material sense. This Science makes clear that bondage and freedom are wholly conditions of thought, and not of matter or the human body. This basic proposition must be clearly understood before we can begin to solve the seemingly endless problems of mortal existence and find the harmony and peace of Spirit, God, infinite good.

In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson set forth some truths which he considered "to be self–evident." For instance, he discerned that God has endowed men with "certain unalienable rights," among which are "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Indeed, no good reason exists why this highly desirable ideal should not be fully enjoyed by all men. The fact that these rights are not so enjoyed indicates that there is something spiritually lacking in the consciousness of men and nations. This something is a lack of understanding of God and man, and of what constitutes true existence.

Christian Science brings to light man's real existence as a child of God, divine Love, Principle, Life, Truth, Mind, Spirit. Paul, aware of this sonship, or at–one–ment with God, said: "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." Before the truth dawned on his consciousness on that memorable day on his way to Damascus, Paul, then Saul, had been blinded by false, material reasoning which had impaired his ability to reason correctly. Now it was revealed to him that man's true selfhood is never opposed to God and His Christ. Thus he was set free to preach and practice "the Spirit of the Lord," which is true liberty, and which heals all the ills of the flesh.

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