Article June 22, 1968 Issue

The True View of Cause and Effect

RICHARD CLAUDE HAW

People have probably always wondered about the causes of things. In primitive times through superstition mankind often attributed causation to evil spirits, but nowadays as facilities leading to clearer reasoning have developed, they tend to be more scientific or practical.

Mrs. Eddy writes, "Reason is the most active human faculty."^{Science and Health, p. 327;} But reasoning must start with a right premise. Reason based on the premises of material law and substance and the reality of evil is not true reasoning and cannot advance mankind out of the limitations inherent in material views of the universe. It cannot do so because it cannot rise above these limitations. Christian Science teaches that correct reasoning starts with God as the creator and governor of the universe. This process shows us the true or spiritual view of all substance, life, intelligence, law, and causation, which in turn must show forth the nature and character of God, Spirit, Mind, good. Mrs. Eddy states, "Reality is spiritual, harmonious, immutable, immortal, divine, eternal."^{p. 335;} Nothing claiming to have any opposite qualities can be real.

The source of evil has always puzzled thinkers; but because people are so concerned with trying to find a cause for evil or unreality, they remain in evil's clutches. According to Christian Science, anything not wholly good is not of God and therefore is not real. Its nature is similar to that of a mathematical error. Can a mathematical error be said to be real? Where does it come from? Where does it go when corrected? If it is real, it should be unchanging; but would it then be possible to correct it? Mathematical error never, in fact, came from anywhere or goes anywhere when corrected. In the light of the truth it simply disappears. It is merely a mistake about mathematical reality, and it can cause trouble only as long as it is believed.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

How to Assimilate the Truth