Editorial May 30, 1953 Issue

AN IMPORTANT SUBJECT

Robert Ellis Key

In Christian Science the term animal magnetism is used to signify evil or error, including sin, sickness, and death. The term animal is opposed to the term spiritual; therefore animal magnetism is that which draws thought away from the spiritual and suggests that an opposite state is real and attractive. Actually, animal magnetism is unreal.

Mary Baker Eddy writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 103), "As named in Christian Science, animal magnetism or hypnotism is the specific term for error, or mortal mind." Whatever form animal magnetism may take, we have a remedy for it in the understanding of Christian Science. When we apply the truth as taught in Science, then animal magnetism, or mortal mind, disappears and the immortal or divine Mind is revealed in its perfect manifestation. In practice we witness this event when the sick are healed through the understanding of the presence and power of God and His Christ, or divine manifestation.

Since animal magnetism disappears in the presence of the Christ, it is clear that it can have no real life, intelligence, or power. Its claim to exist is mesmeric or hypnotic. The Scriptures inform us that all power belongs to God. For instance, in Matthew we read (6:13), "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever;" and in Isaiah (45:5), "I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

THE COMFORT OF SCIENCE