Article July 5, 1947 Issue

TRUE SELF-GOVERNMENT CANNOT FAIL

RICHARD C. SHAW

From time to time the question is raised as to whether democratic government can successfully cope with modern national and international problems. The belief is often expressed that the processes of democracy move so slowly that they do not keep pace with the rapidly shifting human panorama, and that perhaps some form of dictatorship might be more efficient.

Democratic government, sometimes referred to as self-government, will be successful in the degree that it is based on the true or spiritual concept of self-government. This concept is given to us by our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, in her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." where she says (p. 106): "God has endowed man with inalienable rights, among which are self-government, reason, and conscience. Man is properly self-governed only when he is guided rightly and governed by his Maker, divine Truth and Love." Human government which seeks to exemplify this concept will be enabled to meet every human situation that may arise.

Mrs. Eddy also tells us (ibid., p. 260), "Through many generations human beliefs will be attaining diviner conceptions, and the immortal and perfect model of God's creation will finally be seen as the only true conception of being." Certainly this statement of our Leader's as to human beliefs attaining diviner conceptions can be applied to the field of human government. When mankind has labored under the beliefs of inferiority and inequality, the results have been tyranny and dictatorship. But when human belief has embraced the democratic concept of government by the people, this has undoubtedly been a forward step, a step toward the attainment of the spiritual idea of true self-government.

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