Article September 1, 1951 Issue

NO FATHERLESS OR WIDOWS

ESTELLE B. CRANE MAC GREGOR

The concept of God as wholly masculine was prevalent for many centuries, and while the Scriptures contain a number of statements of the fatherhood of God, they have very few references to the motherhood of God.

In view of the supposed superiority of masculine over feminine qualities, the loss of a father or a husband was evidently a great affliction in Biblical times. For the protector and provider to be removed from one's experience was indeed a bitter blow, which called not only for individual fortitude, but also for the care and solicitude of family and friends, who were admonished "to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction."

Through the revelation by Christian Science of the allness, nearness, and availability of God, we are now enabled to throw off the fetters of age-old concepts which have bound mankind consciously and unconsciously. That God is man's Mother as well as his Father was revealed to the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, and this realization has been a turning point in the understanding of the nature of God and of His reflection, man. It has elevated the feminine qualities to their rightful place as pure ideas of God. The orthodox concept of God depicts Him as an almighty creator who often consigns His creation to discord, decadence, and death. The Christian Science concept of God as Father-Mother affirms that the Almighty forever maintains His creation in beauty, order, grandeur, and perfection. No longer is the wife deprived of her protector or the child of its provider, for the love of our Father-Mother God is understood as eternally present to supply every need and maintain joy and completeness.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

"NEITHER DO I CONDEMN THEE"