Article February 19, 1972 Issue

Gratitude for Knowing Better

GERTRUDE E. VELGUTH

A person who is just launching out in the study of Christian Science may, momentarily at least, be somewhat startled when he comes face to face with the persuasive demands of divine Truth and Love. He may add up his shortcomings, shrink at their total, and possibly experience a degree of self-condemnation: "How could I have made so many silly mistakes, come to so many blundering conclusions, formed such unwise connections? I should have known better. There must be a way out—a sure release."

Known better! Perhaps at this point he may come across this sentence from Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy: "If mortal mind knew how to be better, it would be better."^{Science and Health, p. 186;} "So," our friend may conclude, "all along it wasn't really me getting myself in trouble. It was mortal mind falsely claiming to be my own thinking. I'd do well to know more about this material consciousness that has been confusing me, preventing me from knowing and doing better."

Christian Science makes possible the knowing. Mortal mind, it reveals, is another name for evil, which Christ Jesus named a liar and the father of lies, and Paul named the carnal mind. This supposititious mind is the sum of spiritual ignorance; it is total darkness, including sin, disease, and death. Paul declares, "The carnal mind is enmity against God."^{Rom. 8:7;}

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