Article September 1, 2013

Showing universal love

Alfred F. Schneider

Originally published in the 1972 pamphlet titled "Christian Science is for Sharing" 

For centuries it has commonly been assumed that many branches of life — fish, fowl, animal and even human — are predatory, rapacious, combative and greedy by instinct. This theory holds that, given the opportunity, living things instinctively seek to destroy and despoil each other. This belief is commonly termed "the law of the jungle."

In recent years this unhappy theory has come under attack. Experiments have shown that, when placed in more ideal environments, formerly predatory ﬁsh no longer acted in a rapacious manner. Evidence of cooperation within both the human and animal world grows.

In short, there is new evidence to indicate that past history has underrated the forces of accommodation, cooperation, mutual assistance and even affection and love to be found wherever life exists.

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