One of the first lessons Christian Scientists learn is the necessity of distinguishing between man, the real man, God's likeness, and the counterfeit, the human or material sense of man. To make this distinction is a fundamental need in the understanding and demonstration of Christian Science. Mrs. Eddy's teaching on this subject is so definite, so emphatic, that there is little occasion for confusion. On page 475 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" she states, "Man is not matter; he is not made up of brain, blood, bones, and other material elements." And later she declares that man is made in God's likeness, and therefore is "spiritual and perfect."

A primary cause of this confusion derives from false reasoning regarding the nature of God and the character of His likeness. If a mortal be regarded as man, made in God's likeness, then the conclusion follows that God, the primary, must partake of the substance and nature of His likeness, mortal man. This leads to the anthropomorphic concept of God. Voltaire, clever cynic, put it thus: "God made man in His likeness and man returned the compliment." Justifiable reasoning, if a mortal be accepted as God's creature, made in His likeness! It is this improper reasoning which Christian Science definitely corrects; and the teaching goes so far, is so complete, that, if he be persistent and faithful, the student has no difficulty in grasping it.

Personality, that is, human personality, enters largely into this subject, for it is closely allied to the false concept of man. The words "personality," "personal," and "person" derive from the Latin word personare, "to sound through," the reference being to the masks worn by actors in the early days, through which their parts were spoken. This implies that person or personality is but a mask which conceals the real man, and through which human experience is expressed. Material personality is then the counterfeit, the image and likeness not of God, not of Truth, but of false material sense; the likeness of evil, not of good.

In fact, Mrs. Eddy makes perfectly clear that the origin of this false sense of man is not God, not divine Truth, Life, and Love, but sin. For she writes (Retrospection and Introspection, p. 67), "The sinner created neither himself nor sin, but sin created the sinner; that is, error made its man mortal, and this mortal was the image and likeness of evil, not of good." So forthright a statement leaves little opportunity for confusion of thought. A mortal, that is, a human personality, is not God's likeness. Far from it! Furthermore, this false creator, termed sin or error, having created its false sense of man, a mortal, does not then withdraw from the field, but persists in its evil attempts to direct, govern, and control its image throughout the length of human experience.

As it claims all the prerogatives of God, the only real creator, mortal mind undertakes to simulate the divine in every direction. This leads to the multiplicity of difficulties which seem to crowd mortal existence; and invariably this false creator persists in its efforts to promote, develop, and exaggerate human personality. Accepting these arguments of error, mortals are prone to look upon the material person as man, and to develop a personal sense which builds up the falsity until it quite occupies the mental horizon. This inevitably clouds the true vision. It is the veil which obscures God's kingdom, the universe of reality, and the real man.

It follows, then, that in order to gain the true concept of man, of one's real selfhood, this veil of materiality, of false belief, must be parted, torn asunder, in order to recognize God's creation, the real man and the real universe. The pride which this false creator has in its false creation is shared by the creature; that is, since mortal mind and matter are one, the mortal believes in himself as man, as self-created, and becomes proud of his belief. To him it is actuality, reality, and he proceeds to promote his false concept with little heed of the disaster toward which he is being rushed.

This adventure in falsity can have but one ending—discord, even tragedy. The belief that life is born into matter is but the precursor of another falsity, that life dies out of matter. Both claims are the essence of falsity. Neither has the slightest semblance of reality. Whatever is built up about man in this mortal consciousness will be destroyed. Reality alone is permanent. Accordingly, evil belief held and cherished as real must ultimately be discarded. When mortals awaken to this fact, striving to build up human personality as man will cease. Rather will there be developed a growing desire to gain the true concept of man, the real selfhood, which is both perfect and permanent.

Many arguments are advanced to defend the claims of human personality. Have I not made myself something in this world? Have I not through my own efforts gained wealth, position, social prominence? Am I not entitled to the fruits of my own hard labors? These queries arise in defense of the false sense of personality; and this situation arises in spite of the sayings of the greatest man who has lived on earth, the most accomplished of all persons, "I can of mine own self do nothing;" and again, "The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."

How completely did Jesus attribute all his capabilities to the one Mind, the infinite Father! He knew God to be the source of all intelligence, of all power, of all activity, of all being, of all good. And because he knew this and constantly drew upon it, he was able to do his many wondrous works. He wrought mightily in the realm of accomplishment, and yet none can say that there is the slightest evidence that Jesus ever claimed aught for his human sense of personality, or undertook even in the slightest degree to exalt this false sense of man. Jesus' mission necessitated his appearance "in the flesh," in order that, mingling with the men of earth, he might show them the way to salvation.

Christian Scientists learn that their capacities for right activity in every direction are greatly enhanced as they seek divine direction and aid. Mrs. Eddy states this definitely on page 128 of the Christian Science textbook. After declaring that the term Science relates to God's laws and to His government, she writes: "From this it follows that business men and cultured scholars have found that Christian Science enhances their endurance and mental powers, enlarges their perception of character, gives them acuteness and comprehensiveness and an ability to exceed their ordinary capacity." And she adds these significant words: "The human mind, imbued with this spiritual understanding, becomes more elastic, is capable of greater endurance, escapes somewhat from itself, and requires less repose."

In view of our Leader's words, can there be the slightest doubt as to the priceless results accruing from denying the false sense of man and proclaiming the true, from laying off the old man and putting on the new? Was not the laying off of the old beliefs about man the preliminary step to the gaining of the Mind of Christ and all the benefits of that experience which Paul emphasized? This means nothing less than the laying off of the false sense of man, of human personality, through transformation of the mental state, and the laying hold of man's true selfhood as the child of God.

This is not ruthless destruction, but a result due to the gradual changing of thought from a material to a spiritual basis; not a violent operation, not through flagellation or torture of the body, but rather through the process of unfoldment as thought is progressively imbued with spiritual truth. The result of this experience is a better sense of body, of improved health, and the actual demonstration of a more harmonious human experience in every direction. Our Leader assures us (ibid., p. 425), "Consciousness constructs a better body when faith in matter has been conquered." Faith transferred from a material basis is rooted in Spirit, in the eternal Mind, which is God.

In this process of making over from matter to Spirit, as the source of all existence, of all intelligence, of all substance, there will be no loss, but untold gain. For the Father has provided boundless blessings for His children, blessings which include joys and benefits far beyond the possibilities of human comprehension. These are brought into individual consciousness as the false sense of personality gives way to the understanding of man's true selfhood.