[Original in German]
Only One Person
"Don't take it personally!" "That wasn't meant personally!" "Now, please don't get personal!"
These are not unusual remarks in daily life. "Personality" seems to occupy considerable space in general thought. Why?
That mortal personality is vulnerable, that one can tread too close to it, or offend by not honoring it, reveals one of its basic characteristics: It is obviously greatly dependent on what others think. In fact, it lives on our belief in it. A sense of personality is not something actually existing but an image that one conceives of someone as one imagines him to be. Mrs. Eddy says in the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health: "The world believes in many persons; but if God is personal, there is but one person, because there is but one God. His personality can only be reflected, not transmitted." Science and Health, p. 517 ;
The result of the world's believing in many persons is obvious. People seem to be subject to all sorts of influences that promote their rise or decline, their good or bad reputation. The world thinks of people as poor and rich, small and great, important and unimportant, good and bad. One who believes he has attained a good personal position is inclined to maintain and defend it, while his opponent is perhaps trying to undermine it.
The Bible corrects the tendency to strive for personal honor and importance. We read: "My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons." James 2:1 ; And: "For of him [God], and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever." Rom. 11:36 ; God, not the human personality, is the creator. He is the creator of all things. Not to personality but to God is all honor due. And all men, women, and children, in their true being, reflect the one person, God— each in an individual way.
Obviously, Christian Science demands of us a different way of viewing things than that which comprehends nothing but mortal, limited persons. How can we come to see man, in God's likeness, as he really is? The expression "impersonal evil" gives us a clue. It says that bad characteristics and traits do not belong to man, who is created by God and reflects God's qualities. Therefore evil is not in the real nature of the individual. Thus we separate the evil from ourselves and others and see that it does not have its origin in person and is not indissolubly bound up with it, but that it is error and deception, a lie about God's man.
This method of viewing things also enables us to see that good does not originate in man but in God, who is the source of all the qualities of good that man reflects. Jesus made this quite clear. He upbraided his critics: "How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?" John 5:44 ; And in another place he said: "Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God." Mark 10:18 ;
The denial of human personality as the originator of good does not mean self-effacement. Certainly we need not object to respect from, and recognition by, others, nor should we neglect to appreciate and acknowledge good wherever it finds expression. The denial of the demands of mortal personality is not a denial of good qualities or good deeds, but merely attests their real origin, God. "His personality"—and His qualities—"can only be reflected, not transmitted."
How very differently we can face our fellowmen when we refuse to accept any inherent, established bad qualities, when we can expect of others what we expect of ourselves—that they will do that which it is their duty to do, namely reflect God's qualities. We need not fear we will meet unpleasant, evil, crooked people. Such appearances deceive. They are not the truth of man. "Man reflects infinite Truth, Life, and Love. The nature of man, thus understood, includes all that is implied by the terms 'image' and 'likeness' as used in Scripture," Science and Health, p. 94 ; states Mrs. Eddy.
An impersonal way of viewing things opens up new possibilities. The recognition that good characteristics are not personal possessions makes them attainable by all. It allows men to discover the great things they possess through reflection. Mrs. Eddy makes clear the grand achievement that still lies before us in her article entitled "Deification of Personality," which closes with this statement: "To impersonalize scientifically the material sense of existence—rather than cling to personality—is the lesson of to-day." Miscellaneous Writings, p. 310 .
