Article February 1, 1947 Issue

Why Plead for Baal?

EMILY ADA ASHCROFT

In the book of Judges is the account of the vision which came to Gideon at a time when Israel had turned away from the worship of the one God and had been overcome in battle by the Midianites. Gideon obeyed the instructions to break down the altar of Baal and to build another to the Lord. But when the overthrown altar was discovered by the Israelities the next morning, and it was known that Gideon, the son of Joash, had destroyed it, the people demanded of Joash that Gideon be killed. Joash replied: "Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? ... if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar." Mankind today may profitably ask itself these same questions.

Mary Baker Eddy, in the Glossary of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 587), defines "gods" in part as "a supposition of sentient physicality." Are we not all guilty of sometimes pleading for this false god? Before mortals know of Christian Science they plead in support of the belief in sentient physicality, the belief that life, truth, and intelligence are in matter. People's conversation to a large extent is concerned with the body and its ailments. This is because they are ignorant of the fact that they are pleading for false gods. But Christian Scientists cannot excuse themselves on the grounds of ignorance. They know what a careful watch they need to keep that they do not plead for the offender, mortal mind.

Are we pleading for Baal by talking about disease, accepting what is written in the newspapers about it, complaining of our aches and pains, entertaining self-pity, and relating to others an account of some accident we have heard of or seen? Should we not rather know that only that which God knows is real and devote our conversation to it?

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