The way we approach our study of metaphysics in Christian Science can make a big difference in what we gain from our study. The more we come to the Bible and Mary Baker Eddy's writings with a deep humility and a spiritual receptivity, the more revealing and refreshing will be the insights we find.

There may be times when we need to revise our motive for researching a particular subject. The human mind tends to want to back up or support a predetermined personal opinion. There are plenty of topics that can lend themselves to a prejudiced study. We may, for instance, hold strong political or economic views. And if we delve into metaphysical research with an established bias, this bias could well color our discoveries.

Take another kind of example. Suppose we want support for a personal decision—perhaps the preference for a vegetarian diet. Beginning with a determination to find such support easily leads to "discovering" it in the books. We might lift this phrase from the Bible: "... I will eat no flesh while the world standeth ...." ^{I Cor. 8: 13.} We might also embrace these words from Mrs. Eddy's writings: "The individuality created by God is not carnivorous ...." ^{Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 514.}

Most of us who want to uncover support for our personal convictions, regardless of what they may be, can probably find citations in the Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings that we feel back us up.

Suppose our convictions change and now we hope the Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings will support our decision to include meat in our regular diet. Setting aside the old use of the word "meat" for "food," we might cling to Paul's admonition for those who had been fasting: "I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health." ^{Acts 27:34.} We might rely on this statement in I Timothy condemning those who encouraged people "to abstain from meats [The New English Bible translates, "from certain foods"], which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving." ^{I Tim. 4:3, 4.} Finally, we might take comfort in our certainty that Christ Jesus and Mrs. Eddy both practiced what they preached, but apparently neither was confined to a vegetarian diet.

In other words, we can't be sure that we're discovering a final answer to questions if we approach them in an effort to substantiate our own convictions. It's often challenging to subdue the desire to simply confirm what we already believe. The human mind isn't always entirely responsive to fresh new perspectives—or to views that upset what it has accepted right along. But when receptivity and humility are honestly motivating us, we are much more likely to perceive points that wouldn't otherwise emerge in our research.

Again, suppose we were considering the subject of vegetarianism. If we approach our study with enough spiritual inquisitiveness, we might discover that our underlying inclination to pursue this diet is being impelled by the subtle influences of some forms of eastern philosophy—the abhorrence that a Hindu might feel about eating a cow, which he sees as symbolic of the interrelationship of human and animal life. On the other hand, an honest study and search may bring to light the need to change our attitude toward our fellow inhabitants on this planet; or we may need to be relieved of an inflexible belief that the body must have meat, or that a personal appetite would not be satisfied without it.

An unprejudiced study can often bring to the surface forces of thought that silently influence our actions. Such exposure enables us to act more in line with our true inclinations—and it helps us give up any rigid sense of what we think others should do.

It's quite possible that our study of a given subject, when undertaken with genuine humility, will open the door to an entirely different direction of thought than anticipated. For instance, if we were continuing to research the question of food, we might come across this citation in Science and Health: "In divine Science, man is sustained by God, the divine Principle of being. The earth, at God's command, brings forth food for man's use. Knowing this, Jesus once said, 'Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what 'ye shall drink,'— presuming not on the prerogative of his creator, but recognizing God, the Father and Mother of all, as able to feed and clothe man as He doth the lilies." ^{Science and Health, p. 530.}

An effort merely to ascertain which foods are best to eat might give way to the more important discovery of how to heal a case of indigestion or ptomaine poisoning. When Jesus said, "Take no thought ... what ye shall eat," he didn't mean to ignore food and the present purpose it has for us. The original Greek word for "take ... thought" can be translated "be anxious." The Christ still is telling us, "Don't be anxious, don't be afraid about food." To understand that we can actually be fearless because of the authority of the Christ will enable us to heal not only fear of lack but physical distress.

Whenever we research any specific subject we're bound to gain a great deal more insight—and what we perceive will be more spiritual and meaningful—if we are completely open and receptive to what God reveals. The human mind would confine the lessons we learn to a particular narrow issue—one that simply deals with human actions. In a way, this is the same kind of Pharisaism that Christ Jesus had to contend with. A fine point of the law, valid as it might be, was often the major factor in the thought of his detractors, while Jesus always looked to a larger lesson—one that taught something of the nature of God and man and thereby enabled him to heal.

It's right to be inquisitive enough to search the Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings. But we also can be humble and spiritually-minded enough to let those books speak to us with fresh inspiration. The more we approach our study on this basis, the more quickly we will demonstrate man's perfection as the pure idea of God.

NATHAN A. TALBOT