Substance

Clifford P. Smith

Physics now dissects matter into space and electric charges, positive and negative, called protons and electrons. "If we eliminated all the unfilled space in a man's body and collected his protons and electrons into one mass, the man would be reduced to a speck just visible with a magnifying glass." These are the words of an eminent physicist, Professor A. S. Eddington, on pages 1 and 2 of his book "The Nature of the Physical World," dated 1928.

In the Christian Science view, this striking statement does not affect man at all: matter is not an element of man. Yet, such a dissection of the so-called human body helps to prove that materiality is only material belief or nonspiritual thinking. So also, such a dissection helps to show the illusory nature of what seems to be physical disease. Even when matter is assumed to be something, any bodily condition is mostly space. Then when matter can be regarded as nothing, health is necessarily seen as an inherent condition of Mind.

In effect, Professor Eddington also relates that physics has reduced the entire physical world to shadows and symbols (Introduction, pages xiv, xv). Then he continues thus: "It is difficult to school ourselves to treat the physical world as purely symbolic. We are always relapsing and mixing with the symbols incongruous conceptions taken from the world of consciousness. Untaught by long experience we stretch a hand to grasp the shadow, instead of accepting its shadowy nature."

This statement depicts a difficulty that is common to physicists and Christian Scientists. We, too, "untaught by long experience," are prone to relapse, in unguarded moments, from the new to the old concept of substance. How can we completely cut off this liability to relapse? For one thing, we can continually prove the truth of being for ourselves. By this means, we can acquire the demonstrative experience, whether long or short, that will give us what Paul described as "the full assurance of understanding."

Another point is that we can develop progressively the comprehension that substance is not only spiritual but active; it is active Being. The material sense of substance is typified by something that is dense, massive, and motionless; hence, to acquire the spiritual sense of substance, we must cancel the material belief, and do this utterly. Radio activity, more than granite, hints at substance. But truly understood, substance is instanced by a spiritual idea in action, a true thought doing its work. One of the facts of being, stated by Mary Baker Eddy, is that "immortal Mind is ever active." (See "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," page 387.)

A third point is that we can develop and perfect the comprehension that the real man, the real self, is the pure reflection of Spirit, and is not at all like the so-called human being. In particular, we can guard our thought against the notion, whether distinct or vague, that the real man is a spiritual organism resembling the so-called human body. This is a dangerous error, partly because it is often not recognized as such. Its importance is shown by the following quotation from Mrs. Eddy's "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 103): "Any inference of the divine derived from the human, either as mind or body, hides the actual power, presence, and individuality of God."

Therefore, the true concept of man and self calls for the true concept of substance; which Christian Scientists get not from physics, but from divine metaphysics. Nevertheless, we observe with pleasure the above-mentioned achievements, as advancements toward the complete disappearance of material belief. Such changes in human thought can help us to expect confidently the fulfillment of the Revelator's prophecy and vision (Rev. 10:7–11; 11:15), "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ."

Clifford P. Smith

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