Article November 6, 1954 Issue

"THE PRIMAL AND ETERNAL QUALITY"

LESTER G. BESOLD

In answer to the question, "What is intelligence?" Mary Baker Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 469), "It is the primal and eternal quality of infinite Mind, of the triune Principle,—Life, Truth, and Love,—named God." She also explains in the same paragraph, "Intelligence is omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence." These are fundamental points in Christian Science, for they invalidate every claim of evil, or matter, to power, presence, or intelligence.

Spiritual intelligence is a quality native to God, divine Mind. Evil, or matter, being the opposite of God, Spirit, has none of God's qualities, nor can it acquire them in any way. When this is recognized, error's claim to intelligence in any form may be instantly challenged and its assumed influence be nullified. Error has no intelligence with which to create anything; to initiate action; to command admiration, allegiance, or respect; or to victimize anyone through fear, selfishness, lust, or hypocrisy. Nor does it have many little minds which believe it, obey it, or worship it. Lacking intelligence, evil or error is a state of chaos embodying the elements of its self-exposure and destruction.

Man, the spiritual image and likeness of God, naturally and effortlessly reflects Mind's intelligence. The omnipresence of God bespeaks the omnipresence of intelligence. All of God's creation exists under the orderly direction of Life, Truth, and Love. Because Mind is Love, it creates nothing afflictive, discordant, or destructive. Any evidence of discord arises from the false claims of material sense, which intelligence exposes and discredits. As mortals accept this truth of man and all creation and utilize it in their daily lives, they will find the fetters of mortality beginning to loosen.

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