Editorial December 7, 1974 Issue

Man Is Not Finite

Geoffrey J. Barratt

Building on the premise of the infinitude of God, the only cause, Christian Science teaches that man is not finite. This concept of man is entirely different from that proposed to us by the physical senses. "Finite sense," Mary Baker Eddy points out, "has no true appreciation of infinite Principle, God, or of His infinite image or reflection, man."^{Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 300:} The Science view of man has implications not only surprising to ordinary, material ways of thinking, but extraordinarily practical—it heals.

God knows no limitation. Whatever is not God-known is not known to man. God's man is not finite. Much human strife comes from the almost universal acceptance of what, in Science, is a false belief: that man exists in material space and has a measurable outlined identity. Consequently, finite man often suffers from what could be called problems of intake. The individual inside the corporeal outline seems to be dependent upon some of the things in the outside environment and at the same time vulnerable to some. But man, eternal Love's infinite image, is not that kind of being at all. He lives in Love.

To illustrate. A deeply rooted claim about finite man is that he depends for life and well-being on the atmosphere that surrounds him. People may suffer from respiratory troubles flowing from the acceptance of this belief. In his intake of air finite man, comprised of lungs, bloodstream, and so on, may seem to suffer from the industrial pollution of the very air that seems indispensable to his well-being. The healing truth, however, is that man is the outgrowth of infinite Life—not a finite inhabitant of earth's atmosphere—and depends for existence and being on Life. The idea of Spirit is spiritual, and is held in Spirit. He is not subject to respiratory troubles or to poisonous gases. We can confirm this in better health as our understanding grows that man—abiding in Spirit— knows no limits or imperfections. This dematerializes our view of ourselves and others. And, in addition, our clearer understanding that man lives in Spirit can help quicken whatever methods are necessary to purify our cities.

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