Article July 7, 2014 ISSUE

Discovering what's real

Mark Catlin

When I started out in the study of Christian Science, I had an experience that forever changed my view on the nature of reality—literally turning what I held as real upside down.

Prior to learning about Christian Science, my view of reality was based on what was taught to me in my childhood Sunday School in a traditional Protestant church. By the time I entered graduate school, I had some serious questions as to what was real and true about me and my relationship to God.

I began attending Christian Science Organization (CSO) meetings at the university and was intrigued. I agreed with all the fresh ideas I was learning about God and Christ—ideas such as God does not give out both praise and punishment, but rather God is only good, all-encompassing divine Love, and that by coming to realize and understand this fact, we discover that it is Love that constantly guides and directs our thoughts and actions, every day and every moment. I was also learning that the Christ is timeless—in operation before, during, and after Jesus’ appearance and ministry—and that the Christ is a real and active presence in our lives today. The Christ, or the action of divine Love, helps us onward in our spiritual progress, freeing us from sin and sickness.