Article July 21, 1951 Issue

THE MAN OF INTEGRITY

ALLENE E. THORNBURGH

The man of integrity, literally interpreted, is one who maintains his original, undivided, and unimpaired state of soundness and completeness as an integer, a whole number or unit. According to the Latin derivation of the word integrity, he is "untouched." Hence his status is immutable. It is thus that: man is unqualifiedly understood in Christian Science, which teaches that man is the reflection of God, who is divine Mind, Life, Truth, Love, Spirit, Soul, Principle. Therefore man is spiritual, perfect, harmonious, and complete. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, implies this in the following passage in "Pulpit and Press" (p. 4): "Is not a man metaphysically and mathematically number one, a unit, and therefore whole number, governed and protected by his divine Principle, God?"

While usage has long defined an individual of integrity as one of sound character, strict honesty, uprightness, conscientiousness, and as opposed to all that is base and dishonorable, it has done so on the mistaken assumption that man is humanly conceived and susceptible to evil influences. Christian Science invalidates this assumption on the scientific premise that since Spirit, God, is All, matter and evil are unreal. Hence man, God's image, is not humanly conceived and is incapable of depletion, defilement, and disintegration.

The truth of these facts can be demonstrated through a scientific understanding of the Commandments and obedience to them. Mrs. Eddy says in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 340): "This text in the book of Ecclesiates conveys the Christian Science thought, especially when the word duty, which is not in the original, is omitted: 'Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.' In other words: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: love God and keep His commandments: for this is the whole of man in His image and likeness."

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