The human being appears to be under constant pressure from numerous conflicting elements that exist within his own thinking, in his activities, and in the world around him. This conflict often leads to tension, resentment, bitterness, and strife, which keep him in turmoil and constitute a major threat to his health and well-being.

Does this scene of opposition and unrest really present a true picture of man and his experience? Christian Science reveals that it does not.

Conflict is the result of the universal material belief that there are many individual mortal minds with varying opinions, desires, and wills. Christian Science, on the other hand, teaches that Mind is God and that, as there is but one God, there can be but one infinite Mind, one source of thought and motive. In reality, then, man must exist in a state of perfect peace and harmony without a single element of friction or conflict. This is the spiritually true basis of man's existence, true right where the illusion of discord appears to exist.

If one accepts the belief of many finite minds, he opens his individual experience to the uncertainty and opposition that stem from such a belief. It is important, therefore, for each one to strive to understand and accept the spiritual fact that there is but one infinite Mind, one universal source of intelligence and action. This acceptance, however, must come through one's spiritual sense, as it is certainly not apparent to the physical senses, which are themselves part of the illusion of many minds. The Christ, Truth, reveals spiritual facts to human thought when the physical senses are silenced and one opens his thought to God.

When we examine our own thinking, we find many conflicts of interest and desire. We read of this conflict in Romans: "The good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me." ^{Rom. 7:19, 20;} The carnal mind, through its aggressive suggestions, would claim to act as our own consciousness. The conflict between good and evil can gradually be ruled out of individual thought, however, by taking time each day to recognize that man is under the influence and direction of the one Mind only.

We need to silence human will and humbly listen for Mind's infallible guidance. We need to establish a deep sense of inner peace, for this is the atmosphere that stills the turmoil that seems to grip the body. In the words of Mrs. Eddy: "The understanding that the Ego is Mind, and that there is but one Mind or intelligence, begins at once to destroy the errors of mortal sense and to supply the truth of immortal sense. This understanding makes the body harmonious; it makes the nerves, bones, brain, etc., servants, instead of masters." ^{Science and Health, p. 216.}

This same truth is applicable to family, social, or business situations. When the writer was a manufacturing manager, he found it necessary to render a decision as to which of two special processes should be used in the manufacture of a certain new product. As considerable money had to be invested in the process selected, it was essential to choose the proper one. The company's technical experts were irreconcilably divided as to which process to use, and, furthermore, an immediate decision was required if the work was not to be critically delayed.

After listening to the exponents of each process the writer prayed to be led by the one Mind to make the proper choice. It came to him very clearly which process to choose, and he was prepared to give his decision the following day. It then occurred to him that when he gave this decision some of the technical experts would be opposed to the choice and he might lose their cooperation, which he felt sure he would need.

As he prayed over this, he realized that since there was but one Mind, there could be no conflict, no opposition. He cherished this thought and let it fill his consciousness. He realized also that all persons involved actually were the expression of the one Mind and so within themselves there could be no conflict.

The next day, before he had a chance to give his decision, the leading exponent of the process the writer had decided not to use came to him. He said he had become convinced that the process he had been favoring would not meet the requirements. He strongly recommended the one that the writer had selected. Experience proved the choice to have been right, and through the development stage the writer had the full cooperation of all the technical experts.

The truth of harmonious, spiritual being is also applicable to the world situation. Each student of Christian Science has the opportunity to understand the gross unreality of world unrest. He can deny reality to conflict wherever it seems to exist, and he can affirm the singleness of purpose and action that really exists. As the whole human experience is the objectification of human thought and cannot be separated from thought, the alignment of thought to what is really going on in the divine creation acts as a powerful leavening agent. It influences and gradually transforms the total human picture, evolving conditions that eliminate strife and establish universal peace and harmony.