Article January 5, 1957 Issue

SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF BEING

J. LESLIE HADDON

Before one can hope to complete any project, he must have a knowledge of the method of procedure or know-how. Without this he will soon be floundering in guesswork and speculation. While most of our tasks are undertaken of our own volition, some are imposed responsibilities which we must face up to. Of these, the most momentous task, and one common to all, is to discover the meaning and truth of existence, to solve the problem of being. In the course of this process, while demonstrating man's birthright and destiny as the son of God, mankind will find healing for sickness and redemption for sins. Thus will be fulfilled the promise of the Master (John 8:32), "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Mary Baker Eddy writes in the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 128): "A knowledge of the Science of being develops the latent abilities and possibilities of man. It extends the atmosphere of thought, giving mortals access to broader and higher realms. It raises the thinker into his native air of insight and perspicacity." Ignorance and delusion have kept mankind blind to man's status as God's spiritual reflection. The truth of being, sought and known, awakens them to their real nature as the expression of God, Spirit. Mortal mind, the false intelligence purporting to govern the body, has beguiled mankind into believing that their material concept of life is necessary, even indispensable. But knowing the truth that man is spiritual dispels the illusion and sets mankind free.

How do we go about demonstrating freedom from earthly ills? It apparently was easy and natural for the Christians of Christ Jesus' time to overcome physical and mental ills; yet their overcoming appeared inscrutable and mysterious to unenlightened mortals, even as it does today. The first step in demonstrating freedom is to humble ourselves so that we may listen to and believe what we have so long and insistently been told by the inspired writers and consecrated exponents of the Holy Scriptures. They have said in effect that mortals are mentally on the wrong track; that they have been and are, misled by a conception of life altogether erroneous, which claims for matter a power and an intelligence rivaling God.

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