Article February 25, 1980 Issue

Demonstrating our spiritual identity

RICHARD CLAUDE HAW

So remote does the goal of perfection appear to human beings that the great majority never give it a thought. Or they relegate it to a "future life." But we can make current progress toward the goal of perfection as we gain a deeper understanding of God and of the real man's likeness to Him. We need to identify ourselves with this likeness and then set about realizing and demonstrating it.

Militating against progress, however, is the widely held theological belief that man has fallen from God's grace. The ancient story of Adam eating forbidden fruit may not always be taken literally today, but the view it portrays is still with us—a man inherently imperfect, saddled with desires that make sin natural. Christian Science has come to explode that myth and all its consequences and to declare man's spiritual status. Our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, makes this unequivocal statement: "You can never demonstrate spirituality until you declare yourself to be immortal and understand that you are so. Christian Science is absolute; it is neither behind the point of perfection nor advancing towards it; it is at this point and must be practised therefrom. Unless you fully perceive that you are the child of God, hence perfect, you have no Principle to demonstrate and no rule for its demonstration."^{The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 242;}

Can we afford, then, to accept the old theological teaching that we are sinning mortals, living in fear of a wrathful Deity and trying to work out of mortality into a doubtful heaven after death? This doctrine has never been able to meet mankind's deepest need for redemption.

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