Article January 23, 1971 Issue

Can Poverty Be Overcome?

SARA VELTMAN TUCKER

Poverty looms large on the social horizon of our day. At the same time, we see evidences of extreme wealth, and "the affluent society" has become a byword. Programs for combating the extreme poverty affecting nearly all nations and races are being proposed and debated. Is there a sure way to make wealth more equal and assure all men the necessities for living? Christian Science submits that there is, but it also teaches that poverty will never be eliminated solely through legislation and other human means.

While humane legislation is unquestionably necessary at this point of world development and all right ways must be explored to ease the burden of our fellowmen, Christian Science offers a practical and permanent spiritual solution to this problem that has plagued mankind all through the ages. In Christian Science poverty is basically an individual problem, and, to be lastingly solved, it must be solved individually.

Christian Science begins by resolving the problem into thought, seeing that it is primarily mental. Our experience is a projection of our thought and of the beliefs we have accepted. Some people have accepted poverty as normal for their experience, but it is a falsely imposed pattern that can be broken. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, uses the word "poverty" only once in her main work, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, but in this passage is found the solution to the problem. Speaking of the New Testament narratives, Mrs. Eddy writes, "Jesus illumines them, showing the poverty of mortal existence, but richly recompensing human want and woe with spiritual gain."^{Science and Health, p. 501;}

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