PERSPECTIVE ON THE NEWS June 30, 1980 Issue

Divine control and the arms race

One of the underlying concerns in the present atmosphere of heightened tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union, brought about by the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, is the nuclear arms race. Also, recent developments indicate materials and equipment that can be used to produce atomic bombs are spreading to an increasing number of countries.

The question is, Can the individual do anything more than sit helplessly by in the face of these alarming trends? He can. Any system of armament is obviously controlled by people. The way they think is therefore the key to this problem. However much is attributed to computers, material tools have no inherent intelligence. They don't of themselves initiate action. Motivation is mental and, as the Christian Scientist recognizes, the only real Mind is God. What's more, because God is One, Mind is One. This puts an altogether different light on the subject of defense and armament. The size of the stockpiling, the decision about which system of deployment to adopt—these become secondary considerations when one realizes that the essential confrontation is between divine Mind and the so-called material intelligence mortals believe to be mind.

Mind is Love, reflected by man, Mind's image. This is the central fact of true government. Love is the only real motivating power—the power that launched Christianity and revealed Christian Science. Christ Jesus proved Love's control on stormy waters and in the turmoil of an angry mob. Mrs. Eddy says, "Moral and spiritual might belong to Spirit, who holds the 'wind in His fists;' and this teaching accords with Science and harmony."^{Science and Health, p. 192;}

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