Editorial January 28, 1956 Issue

THE CORRECT VIEW OF MAN

Robert Ellis Key

When one looks through the medium of the material senses one is confronted with a distorted view of man. A disproportionate view of creation is presented if we accept material sense testimony. One sees only the images of mortal mind. They may be tall or short, thin or fat, strong or weak. Often the picture is distressing as well as disproportionate, especially when the lame, the blind, the maimed, or the sorrowful is flashed before us on the screen of mortal mind. In spite of these disturbing and disproportionate pictures, however, the thinker feels that there must be a perfect pattern underlying all things. Reason informs him that the creations of God could not be distressed or disproportionate.

Christian Science teaches that the real man is not seen through the material senses, but through spiritual sense. The Bible informs us (Gen. 1:27), "God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." Where, then, is this God-created man to be seen? Certainly not in matter. The physical senses portray only an objectification of the carnal mind. They cannot discern the spiritual man. As we put off material sense, the distressing and distorted pictures will vanish and spiritual identities will take their place. Man's spiritual identity naturally includes spiritual characteristics, such as grace, beauty, dignity, and strength —all outlined by the Mind which created them.

Mary Baker Eddy writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (pp. 247, 24-8), "The recipe for beauty is to have less illusion and more Soul, to retreat from the belief of pain or pleasure in the body into the unchanging calm and glorious freedom of spiritual harmony." Heavenly attributes must surely belong to the perfect man. Since this is so, we shall find in the Mind of Christ the remedy for distortion. As we draw nearer to the Christ, Truth, the true image and likeness will appear.

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