Article December 13, 1975 Issue

Equal Opportunity Employer

BETTIE B. THOMPSON

In an American newspaper, about half the classified advertisements carry the heading "Equal Opportunity Employer"—that is, these individuals or organizations have a policy to employ applicants regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, or sex for positions with equal pay and advancement opportunities. Even church organizations, such as The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, have such a policy with certain recognized religious exceptions.

This indicates that humanitarian efforts are being made by these individuals and organizations to give everyone an opportunity to prove his ability to do effective work, and to restore justice and confidence to those individuals who have been denied their rightful opportunities. An EO employer strives to provide work and remuneration impartially, fairly, and justly. Human belief in all its forms, however, implies dualism, a combination of good and evil, and this dualism, accepted as inherent in human nature, provides a foundation for confusion, conflict, and fear.

Christian Science clearly acknowledges only one employer, God. God is the equal opportunity employer in the highest sense, knowing no double standard or opposing concepts. He provides infinite opportunity for all of His spiritual ideas; He knows all and loves all. He does not withhold good. Understanding these spiritual facts, any individual can presently claim his entire exemption from the experience of lacking equal opportunity or of denying it to anyone. Mrs. Eddy tells us, "God is incorporeal, divine, supreme, infinite Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love."^{Science and Health, p. 465;} The illusion of mortal mind's suggesting unequal acceptance or denial of opportunity is plainly precluded by God's All-in-allness.