Immunity from Evil

George Shaw Cook

Students of Christian Science have frequently been able to prove their immunity from so-called contagious disease. They have demonstrated that contagion is a thing of thought rather than of matter, and that contagious disease is not communicated by means of germ infection, as many believe, but by means of so-called thought transference. They understand, in other words, that contagion is mental and is spread, very largely, through fear, and that therefore their protection lies in true, fearless thinking.

There is a legend concerning an ancient ruler who was going on a journey. It is related that as he passed out through the gates of the city he was encountered by "The Plague," who was on his way in. "The Plague" is said to have gained the ruler's permission to kill just one of his subjects, during his absence, but when the ruler returned he found that thousands had succumbed. On being accused of not keeping his word, "The Plague" replied, "I killed but one, fear killed the rest."

While the foregoing story is purely fictional, it graphically illustrates the part which fear plays in epidemics of disease. Therefore, it is well at such times to recall these words found in the ninety-first Psalm: "Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee."

In her article called "Contagion," found on pages 228 and 229 of "Miscellaneous Writings," after pointing out the mental nature of contagion, showing the part that fear has in it, and explaining how to protect oneself against it, Mary Baker Eddy concludes as follows (p. 229): "A calm, Christian state of mind is a better preventive of contagion than a drug, or than any other possible sanative method; and the 'perfect Love' that 'casteth out fear' is a sure defense."

However, so-called contagious disease is by no means the only form of evil against which one needs to protect oneself. Unfortunately the press, the screen, and the radio are being increasingly used to convey horrific pictures of disaster and crime. Much is being said by the public in protest against this regrettable tendency. It is pointed out that these undesirable mental pictures find their way into the minds of children and young people, with disastrous effect. How alert, therefore, Christian Scientists who are parents or guardians of the young should be to prevent this disease-breeding mental inoculation from finding entrance into the consciousness of those in their charge!

In these times when evil conditions due to erroneous thinking seem rampant, we need to guard against the invasion of our mental homes. We need to be alert and faithful in rejecting the arguments of aggressive mental suggestion, and in doing so we shall be helped by these further words from the Psalm referred to above: "Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling."

Metaphysically considered, to make the "most High" one's "habitation" is habitually to dwell in the conscious realization of the allness and ever-presence of God, infinite good. Consciousness of the allness of good excludes the belief that evil is present or has power; hence it affords protection against the asserted power of evil thinking in any and all of its suppositional phases.

It is not claimed by Christian Scientists that right thinking on the part of an individual can wipe out the sum total of evil beliefs. But it is becoming more and more apparent that one can through persistent and faithful right knowing render himself increasingly immune to the attacks of evil. Mrs. Eddy says, on pages 234 and 235 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures": "Evil thoughts and aims reach no farther and do no more harm than one's belief permits. Evil thoughts, lusts, and malicious purposes cannot go forth, like wandering pollen, from one human mind to another, finding unsuspected lodgment, if virtue and truth build a strong defence." It is important to note that virtue as well as truth is included by our Leader in the spiritually mental barrier which one needs to erect if he would adequately protect his human consciousness against the incursions of immoral, impure, and discordant suggestions.

George Shaw Cook

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