More than ever today Christian Science reveals the necessity of understanding man's inherent mental and spiritual freedom and of continuously demonstrating it. In order to do this, the teachings of Christian Science show us, we must uncover the intent of the supposititious lie of mortal mind and its hidden and wicked activity. Referring to this, Mary Baker Eddy writes in her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 570): "The march of mind and of honest investigation will bring the hour when the people will chain, with fetters of some sort, the growing occultism of this period. The present apathy as to the tendency of certain active yet unseen mental agencies will finally be shocked into another extreme mortal mood,—into human indignation; for one extreme follows another."

No one can be said to have achieved complete spiritual and mental freedom, and therefore control of his thinking, until he perceives and understands that because man has no mind apart from God he cannot be influenced through so-called mental manipulation or aggressive suggestion. Referring to this, Mrs. Eddy writes in "Pulpit and Press" (p. 3), "Know, then, that you possess sovereign power to think and act rightly, and that nothing can dispossess you of this heritage and trespass on Love."

In these days the supposititious opposite of the one Mind, the so-called carnal or mortal mind, is showing itself in its true colors as the enslaver and manipulator of the human race. It is coming out from under cover and openly proclaiming that it can control the thinking of human beings through propaganda and even more subtle and hidden forms of hypnotic suggestion. It is using every known device to terrify, intimidate, and frighten. It speaks through the press, radio, and television. It particularly expresses itself through despotic forms of government, and many otherwise worthy people lend themselves to further its evil designs.

We are living in a period when human beings who have learned something of the nature of so-called mortal mind are attempting to use it for wicked and ulterior purposes. The Apostle Paul, however, wrote(II Cor.10:4, 5), "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." How clearly Christian Science reveals that mankind should be awake and alert to the fact that mass hypnotism is being used today in many forms and many places to gain control over the thinking of men both individually and collectively. Millions are being indoctrinated with false concepts through mental suggestion. They are led to repeat, parrotlike, thoughts that are not their own and that have been implanted by hypnotism. They are thus deprived of the ability to control their own thoughts, to think for themselves or to make their own decisions. The Chinese have coined a term for this evil practice; they call it "brain-washing."

Christian Science points out the immediate necessity of establishing and maintaining man's oneness with divine Mind, and the knowledge of this truth enables us to prove that we cannot be put to sleep or manipulated by suggestion; that judgment and intelligence cannot be darkened or perverted. True knowledge is unfettered knowledge. It appears through reason and revelation unfolding in individual consciousness. It is never imposed by some external authority. Our beloved Leader writes in her textbook (p. 106): "God has endowed man with inalienable rights, among which are self-government, reason, and conscience. Man is properly self-governed only when he is guided rightly and governed by his Maker, divine Truth and Love. Man's rights are invaded when the divine order is interfered with, and the mental trespasser incurs the divine penalty due this crime."

Freedom from the false claims of so-called evil minds is imperative, but it will not be achieved if we continue to think of ourselves as fearful human beings combating them. It is the perception of man's present spiritual identity— that man as idea is now and always one with and inseparable from divine Mind and therefore an expression of spiritual being— that equips one to stand and fearlessly prove the unreality and powerlessness of evil. Man, being idea, exists forever at the standpoint of divine Mind. He is the forever expression and substance of divine Mind. For this reason one who understands and demonstrates the truth of God and of man's inseparable relationship to Him is in the truest sense a free thinker.

"Now are we the sons of God" (I John 3:2). What does this mean? Does it indicate the postponement of that great fact? Does it mean that the demonstration and evidence of man's true being must wait? "Behold, now is the accepted time," says the Apostle Paul (II Cor. 6:2); "behold, now is the day of salvation." Through our understanding of Christian Science, that day or unfoldment appears as we recognize the truth of man's present and forever spiritual selfhood and stand by it without fear.