Article November 1, 2013

The senses of Spirit: are there senses of matter?

J. F. Bailey

Originally published in the October 15, 1890 issue of the Christian Science Series (Vol. 2, No. 12)

In the present, human sense of Life, two lines of testimonies—one related to ideas of Immortal Mind, the other to images of what is called matter—seem to contest at every instant possession of consciousness. But that there is a human ego or consciousness, or that each human being is an ego or consciousness—Christian Science shows to be error. God, Good, Infinite Mind, is the only Ego,To the question “What is the ego; whence its origin; what its destiny?” Christian Science replies, “It is Spirit or Soul, not physical sense. There is but one Mind, and the personal surrenders to the Father, from whom man’s individuality is reflected spiritually.” Science and Health, p. 150 the only True and Divine One. This Ego expresses Himself or is reflected in ideas. These ideas—the spiritual universe and man, embracing "the minutiæ and infinity of individualities"— Science and Health, p. 164 are for convenience of a term comprehensible to human sense, spoken of as His Creation. By the term "Creation" or "beginning" is meant "the eternal verity and unity of God, the universe and man."Science and Health, p. 432 It is a bridge or resting place for finite sense on its way to God. For God being uncreated His manifestation must be eternal and immortal.

Because the Ego, God, is Intelligence, ideas (the only expression of intelligence) can alone manifest or reflect Him; because He is Spirit, ideas are spiritual; because He is Substance, ideas are substantial, are not subject to decay, and are things, not shadows; because He is Real, and is Life, ideas are real, and are living; because He is Infinite, Spirit and its ideas fill immensity, and nothing else has place or presence.

These "statements" of Deity, or Principle, and His reflections are the touchstone by which all that claims to be something is tried. Only ideas can be things, or real; and they are recognized with certainty by their conformity with the statements. Whatsoever does not conform to them is not, and cannot be.

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