Editorial July 14, 1951 Issue

FEAR HATH NO DOMINION

Richard J. Davis

In the textbook of Christian Science, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy, its author, writes (p. 532), "Fear was the first manifestation of the error of material sense." In all periods of human history it seems as though fear appears as an ever-present blight on the happiness, health, and progress of mankind. The Scriptures indicate that many of the great Bible figures were called upon at some time in their experience to face the aggressive pretensions of evil and, through spiritual vision, perceive the false nature of fear. Throughout the Bible we have the oft-repeated injunction, "Be not afraid."

The book of Isaiah gives us this comforting admonition (41:10—12): "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: theyshall be as nothing. ... Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought."

Christian Science teaches that "nothing" is the name for fear, or evil, "a thing of nought," as the prophet declares. Fear is the inevitable product of erroneous thinking. It is error of thought, the result of admitting a false sense of being. Fear unmistakably underlies every afflictive and erroneous belief entertained by mortals. It has its origin in the claim that there is something or somebody, some situation somewhere, which can bring injury or harm.

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SIGNS OF A NEW ERA
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