A Distinction

CHARLES F. HACKETT

Christian Science makes a distinction between evil and the knowledge of evil which is of much importance in the solving of human problems. In the second chapter of Genesis it was not a tree of good and evil whose fruit was forbidden, but "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." In commenting on the text just quoted Mrs. Eddy says, "It was not against evil, but against knowing evil, that God forewarned" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 367).

The reason for making this distinction becomes clear in the light of the teaching of Christian Science, which shows that God, good, is All-in-all, having all power, presence, and knowledge; whence it necessarily follows that evil is without entity or existence, and is therefore nothing. The only way to destroy evil is on this basis,—the basis of its nothingness. To admit that evil is unreal or false is to admit all there is of it. Because evil seems to be real and present in human experience, it is a great help to know that it is false and unreal; but this alone does not destroy it. Because God, good, is All, however, and evil is nothing, it is the so-called knowledge of evil, or the belief in evil, which must be destroyed. This is not a distinction without a difference, for it is one of the essential differences between Christian Science and other systems of healing and reform. It might even be said that it marks the difference between the successful and the unsuccessful effort to demonstrate the truth.

Having accepted the scientific fact of the allness and all-inclusiveness of God, good, and the consequent nothingness of evil, how is the seeming presence of evil in human thought to be destroyed? In other words, how are we to stop knowing evil, when it seems so interwoven with good in our thought processes and is made so apparent through the five bodily senses? Through the study of the Science of being—the earnest and prayerful effort to know the true nature of God and man—spiritual sense is quickened, and spiritual ideas, which are in the nature of revelations, begin to unfold. These revelations, separating as they do good from evil in human thought, lead to affirmations and denials with respect to particular conditions, in the effort to hold fast that which is good and to reject that which is false. It needs to be clearly seen that these affirmations and denials are necessary only because of our imperfect knowledge, and that they are needed to bring thought into harmony with Truth.

There has been more or less discussion as to the relative importance of affirmation and denial, some laying emphasis on one and some on the other. There may be grave danger of making a reality of evil to human sense by sheer denial of error, and on the other hand there may be just as grave a danger of overlooking error through sheer assertion of truth. When we come to realize, however, that both affirmation and denial follow spiritual perception, perplexity on this point vanishes, and we see the great importance of studying the Science of being apart from its application to particular human problems, in order that the subsequent applications may be effective.

On page 259 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy says, "The Christlike understanding of scientific being and divine healing includes a perfect Principle and idea,—perfect God and perfect man,—as the basis of thought and demonstration." How can we think and demonstrate truth without giving earnest heed to its basis? The unfolding of spiritual ideas brings a sense of dominion, enabling one to speak (affirm and deny) with authority. The spiritualization of thought which follows this scientific activity means less material thinking, less knowing of evil, less of fear, hate, confusion, and suffering, and more true knowing, more love, health, and harmony.

The capacity to discern error in our own thought and in the thought of others, as well as the power to destroy it, is increased by this effort not to know evil. This may seem paradoxical, but the purer one's thought, the more one habitually strives to know good only, the more acute that one becomes in detecting and rejecting false beliefs and suggestions. A mar or defacement stands out clearly on a clean white surface. The most subtle phases of intentional and unintentional evil cannot hide from the purified consciousness. This scientific correction of thought, with the consequent destruction of the knowledge of evil, will go on until man in God's image is fully revealed. Then there will be no need of argument, no need of assertions and denials, for true consciousness will be found to be self-evident and self-existent good. Then for each of us the Bible prophecy will be fulfilled, "Thou shalt not see evil any more."

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