Matter seems to be substantial, prevalent—even dominant—sometimes helpful, but also able to affect health in frightening, painful ways. How can it not matter? It’s a fair question. Many find that a more spiritual understanding of substance, as revealed by the Bible-based teachings of Christian Science, has a beneficial effect on health.

Discovered by Mary Baker Eddy in 1866, Christian Science starts with God, divine Mind, to whom belongs all substance. God being eternal, substance must be imperishable. But is substance material? Some dictionaries define matter as physical substance—the opposite of mind or spirit. The substance of a human body is said to be matter, flesh, which can decay or be diseased.

To prove the insubstantiality of matter and find healing as so many have, we start with God as the only substance. God, Spirit, cannot be diseased or deteriorate. The substance of Spirit is spiritual. The Bible describes “enduring substance” as pertaining to that which is heavenly or spiritual (see Hebrews 10:34). Regardless of how it may seem, the fact is that matter is not really substantial or lasting.