Editorial December 4, 1965 Issue

Metaphysics and Human Interest

Carl J. Welz

In telling the world of Christian Science, we sometimes think we are confronted with a choice between giving deep metaphysics and making an interesting presentation. But this choice is an illusion. It is one of the facets of error's resistance to Truth. Error, which is the carnal, or mortal, mind asserts itself by suggesting that we should build our statement of the letter of Christian Science out of all proportion to the spirit. This is the kind of resistance that caused Paul to say (II Cor. 3:6), "The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."

It is the function of metaphysics to clarify not to confuse. If metaphysics is truly deep, it has a natural appeal to human thought. It is not complicated; it is simple. It is not dull but bright and clear. It is not old but ageless, appearing always fresh and new. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy writes (p. 114): "Christian Science explains all cause and effect as mental, not physical. It lifts the veil of mystery from Soul and body. It shows the scientific relation of man to God, disentangles the interlaced ambiguities of being, and sets free the imprisoned thought."

We cannot logically say that everything that interests human thought is good; but if what we say about Christian Science is not interesting to receptive human thought, it is not a clear statement of metaphysics. Metaphysics is the expression of absolute truth, including perfect God and His image, perfect man, the divine Principle and its idea. Mrs. Eddy says (ibid., pp. 465, 466), "Principle and its idea is one, and this one is God, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent Being, and His reflection is man and the universe."

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