Editorial November 30, 1963 Issue

Man Is Not a Sinning Mortal

Ralph E. Wagers

Christian Science takes issue with several religious doctrines that are basic to the teachings of scholastic theology. One of them has to do with the belief that God created man innocent of sin in the beginning and then endowed him with what is called freedom of choice, by which man brought sin upon the human race.

Such a theory presents a view of God, and of man, made in His likeness, that is responsible for endless confusion. Acceptance of this falsity colors one's entire concept of the Christian religion. It is like making an error in a mathematical computation and then carrying the error all the way through; the error would naturally appear in the result, and the inclination might be to blame the principle of mathematics rather than the mathematician.

To entertain a view of God in which He is held responsible for the tendency of men to sin is a sin in itself. Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health (pp. 475, 476): "The real man cannot depart from holiness, nor can God, by whom man is evolved, engender the capacity or freedom to sin. A mortal sinner is not God's man." The difference between these points of view lies in what one conceives to be the nature of the man of God's creating.

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