Editorial March 10, 1973 Issue

Questionnaires and the Christian Scientist

Naomi Price

From time to time most people are faced with the need to give a description of themselves—when applying for a driver's license, a passport, credit facilities, a job. Does a list of personal questions present a problem to one who is learning through Christian Science the nature of his true being as the perfect, spiritual offspring of God, and is endeavoring to be loyal to this revelation? As he considers how to reply, is he faced with two concepts of himself, one spiritual, immortal, and good, the other material, mortal, and in some ways imperfect? If so, does he find a conflict in his thought as to which concept he should choose to describe in answering the questions?

There should not be since Christ Jesus was confronted with such a problem centuries ago and settled it by pointing to a Roman penny saying, "Whose is this image and superscription?" When those who catechized him replied, "Cæsar's," Jesus went on, "Render to Caesar the things that are Cæsar's, and to God the things that are God's."^{ Mark 12:16, 17;}

It is undoubtedly right to give to human questions answers that are strictly accurate according to the mortal situation as it seems to appear to the physical senses. Under the circumstances this is what "Cæsar," or the world, requires. For instance, if one is applying for a driver's license and the question involves the condition of one's ability to see clearly, it would be a misrepresentation of the human facts if one were to claim unimpaired vision at a time when one's demonstration of God's gift of perfect, spiritual perception is not being manifested in good eyesight.

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