Editorial October 8, 1955 Issue

SCIENCE AND ELECTRICITY

Helen Wood Bauman

While the purpose of physical science is largely to describe and explain the material universe, the objective of Christian Science is to translate the material universe back into the spiritual substance that constitutes creation as God forms it. According to modern physics, matter and material energy are not distinguishable—the atom is composed of electrical particles, and mass is congealed energy. Christian Science goes a step further in the explanation of matter. Mary Baker Eddy says in the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 484), "Physical force and mortal mind are one." And elsewhere in her writings Mrs. Eddy indicates that matter is made up of mortal mind-force (see Science and Health, p. 310).

To describe physical force as mortal mind, or false consciousness, is indeed a departure from the physicist's findings. But this departure is necessary if matter is to be brought under the control of divine Mind and made eventually to disappear. Because human progress in physics has deduced that matter is comprised of electrical energy, it is incumbent upon Christian Scientists to apply their scientific understanding of true energy to the solution of many material problems.

On page 293 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy gives specific explanations which indicate how this application is to be made. She says, "Electricity is not a vital fluid, but the least material form of illusive consciousness,—the material mindlessness, which forms no link between matter and Mind, and which destroys itself." A few lines farther on we read, "Electricity is the sharp surplus of materiality which counterfeits the true essence of spirituality or truth,—the great difference being that electricity is not intelligent, while spiritual truth is Mind."

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