In the global community protests are increasingly raised against oppression. But, as many recognize, more than political action alone is needed to bring freedom. Prayer that quickens the affections and reveals something of spiritual reality, of the perfection of God's creation, is powerfully liberating.

Appeals for human rights are sometimes grounded on the Biblical point that every individual is created by God. People generally feel that social measures must align with ultimate truth. But even when human rights are theoretically honored, they are seldom easily achieved. Endless, sometimes even plausible, claims arise that some should be "more" equal than others. Methods from covert manipulation to outright brutality are used to support these claims. Those with greater human power seem to have the advantage.

Christianity has always maintained, however, that spiritual authority does not necessarily coincide with human power. Christ Jesus was deprived of every human right, unjustly sentenced, and cruelly executed. Yet he, not the rulers of the day, prevailed. He showed us that man, God's image, has an authenticity superior to every imposition which would dwarf, crush, or enslave him. His real being is imperishable.

Conventional belief sees man as created by God but thrust into a world where political and economic forces largely determine the quality of his life. Yet the precept that man is God's likeness means more than this. Christian Science affirms that man is formed and governed entirely by God, divine Spirit. The fullness and freedom of his being are established. Because this is absolute, unequivocal truth, nothing can actually snuff out or indefinitely delay our freedom to experience what we inherently are. As Paul proclaimed, "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." ^{II Cor. 3:17.}

Oppression certainly does appear entrenched and resistant in many cases, but it is not the implacable force it seems to be. The fact that man is God's image also means that aggressive tendencies alien to God cannot be woven into man's character. None of the tyrannical habits of thought employed to such terrible effect today are rooted in the nature of the real man. As human consciousness catches new views of spiritual reality, aggressive habits must eventually be seen as impulses unworthy of man.

Protests against despotism are deeply needed. But the underlying despot is the carnal, or mortal, mind itself, which Paul saw as enmity against God. Blind to spiritual reality, it grasps and suppresses. It fuels aggression and oppression. It leads people to struggle against each other rather than with the basic offender, mortal mind. Mrs. Eddy observes, "The despotic tendencies, inherent in mortal mind and always germinating in new forms of tyranny, must be rooted out through the action of the divine Mind." ^{Science and Health, p. 225.}

The love that sees so deeply into spiritual reality that it finds man in God's own likeness liberates human thought. It has impelled the widespread concern for human rights. It possesses greater authority than the limitation and fear that trigger oppression. Its source is God, divine Love.

This love seems to be especially needed in the trouble spots of the world. But haven't we all encountered the despot in our neighborhoods, in our homes, even in the privacy of our own thoughts? The love that honors God's likeness—neither tyrant nor tyrannized—undermines despotic tendencies. When spiritual freedom replaces oppression (or aggression) in our own lives, human consciousness in general gains in freedom.

Mrs. Eddy writes: "A few immortal sentences, breathing the omnipotence of divine justice, have been potent to break despotic fetters and abolish the whippingpost and slave market; but oppression neither went down in blood, nor did the breath of freedom come from the cannon's mouth. Love is the liberator." ^Ibid.