LEARNING TO THINK FROM THE STANDPOINT OF ABSOLUTE GOOD

Christian Science declares that good is the natural and basic quality of God and is revealed in all that He creates or unfolds. Referring to this, Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, says in her book "Miscellaneous Writings" (pp. 26, 27): "The Scriptures name God as good, and the Saxon term for God is also good. From this premise comes the logical conclusion that God is naturally and divinely infinite good. How, then, can this conclusion change, or be changed, to mean that good is evil, or the creator of evil? What can there be besides infinity? Nothing! Therefore the Science of good calls evil nothing. In divine Science the terms God and good, as Spirit, are synonymous. That God, good, creates evil, or aught that can result in evil,—or that Spirit creates its opposite, named matter,—are conclusions that destroy their premise and prove themselves invalid. Here is where Christian Science sticks to its text, and other systems of religion abandon their own logic."

The study of Christian Science enables one to gain a constantly growing understanding of the allness of good and of God's infinite, perfect being. Logic and reason also aid in revealing that good and evil are neither coexistent nor co-active. In Christian Science we see that one might entertain a belief in evil's reality, but he can never know it. Only good can be known, and good alone constitutes man's true being as God's manifestation or reflection.

In the Gospel of Matthew we are told that a young man who apparently was seeking spiritual enlightenment came to Jesus. "Good Master," he said (19:16), "what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" Jesus replied, "Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." In these few words Christ Jesus was plainly endeavoring to have the young man see that good is not a personal, private possession, but that all good has its origin in God; that whatever good he or anyone else expressed or demonstrated resulted solely because God's nature and character is wholly good, and that therefore man, as God's expression, must show forth the nature of his creator.

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Editorial
JUSTICE AND MERCY
August 2, 1952
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