Article February 1, 2014

Principle

S. J. Hanna

Originally published in the February 15, 1891 issue of the Christian Science Series (Vol. 2, No. 20)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.—John i. 1-4.

The word Principle is one of the terms used by the author of Science and Health , our text-book, to designate God. Christian Science treats of God as Principle rather than as Person. Many persons object to this. To their apprehension, when the personality of God is removed God himself is removed. They cannot conceive of a God who is not a person, and such a person as their finite senses tell them He should be. They are content with nothing more and with nothing less than an Infinite God confined to, or embraced within, a finite personality or body: and the finite senses can tell them of no personality or body that is not made up of flesh, blood and bones. It is in this sense, they maintain, that man is made in the image and likeness of God. Any suggestion to the contrary horrifies them; and the author of the suggestion is at once regarded as unorthodox, if not blasphemous. To these persons the term Principle as applied to God, is shocking; to others less disposed to conceive of God as a mere person, the term sounds harsh and cold, if not meaningless. Christian Science, in a general sense, defines God as the great I am ; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-loving, all-wise, eternal, supreme, individual being—Divine Principle .*