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Destroying destructive impulses
Spiritual impulses are derived from God, Soul. Others stem from a mortal sense of existence. A proper understanding of God brings into our lives pure, constructive, wise impulses. A growing love of God frees us of impure, destructive, unwise impulses.
Any impulse that turns us away from moral or spiritual activity is destructive. God is immortal. Spiritual impulses such as joy, inspiration, love, are immortal. Impulses that lead toward anger, fear, deceit, are destructive because they are erring—they flow from a sense of deterioration. By definition, mortality implies an end. But in reality, existence is not mortal. It is immortal. Existence composed of feelings that originate in mortality comes to an end. It plays out the role of mortal mind—the belief that mind is personal, separate from God. That belief ultimately dies. When we align ourselves with immortal sense, we win freedom from destructive impulses. Mrs. Eddy writes, "Because immortal sense has no error of sense, it has no sense of error; therefore it is without a destructive element." Science and Health, p. 210;
Everyone needs to learn that the only real sense he has is spiritual, immortal. Then he will not be impelled to act destructively. When senseless acts of destruction are sensationalized by the news media, a love of God will lead us to pause long enough to acknowledge spiritual facts. These facts include a recognition that God is good and that good is ever present—that His Christ impels only life and love.
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January 22, 1979 issue
View Issue-
A special contribution to the academic community
LAURENCE STUART WRIGHT
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The educated disciple
TODD ROBIN NELSON
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You don't know how to fail!
JAMES MARSHALL FABIAN
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Getting involved with your education
DIANE LA TRELLE DOUGLAS
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Learn to love
WILLIAM WELSH HOLLAND
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Are we "honest seekers"?
CAROL MOSS ALTON
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"Give us this day ..."
June McCleneghan Fowler
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What and how should we read?
Naomi Price
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Destroying destructive impulses
Nathan A. Talbot
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Let ages ring
Lee Reeder
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Ten years ago I became an earnest student of Science
Kristen H. Sanders
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As a sophomore in high school, I made a decision that pointed...
Andrea Karla Senser
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After the war I met a friend whose transformed, more loving...
Ruth-Edith Flemming with contributions from Karl Flemming, John W. Lavrakas