Article September 19, 1970 Issue

Discipline versus indulgence

HELEN OAKLEY ROCKHOLD

Much of the advertising bombarding us through radio, television, and the press concerns the physical body, its size and shape. Currently, diet has become a full-blown fad. This tends to make even the Christian Scientist food conscious. It would rivet thought on physicality. So, how do we face this barrage of propaganda? Certainly not by merely averting our eyes and closing our ears. It is always wise to be aware of the general beliefs that claim to be prevalent in human thinking, and then, through our understanding of God and man, know them to be powerless to help or harm. Christ Jesus gives practical and correct instructions: "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink?"^{Matt. 6:31;}

We discover early in our study of Christian Science that the body can be compared to a blackboard on which we display our thoughts and emotions. Body is considered as externalized or objectified thought, embraced in the mind of its possessor. So, we take thought for thought!

Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, gives us a statement that may act as our guideline: "The body is governed by mind; and mortal mind must be improved, before the body is renewed and harmonious,—since the physique is simply thought made manifest."^{Miscellaneous Writings, p. 34;} The tidal wave of advertising illustrates the trend of present-day society to invite indulgence of the body in all directions. While the Christian Scientist is certain that he would not indulge in tobacco or liquor, or any such obvious appetite, he must be just as alert not to practice any form of indulgence. This may seem like a very mundane matter, but it concerns us all. It was important enough for Jesus to discuss, and Mrs. Eddy indicates her thinking on the subject in the words from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: "The generous liver may object to the author's small estimate of the pleasures of the table."^{Science and Health, p. 129;}