It is a peculiarity of human nature, or what in Christian Science is often called mortal mind, that it frequently fancies it opposes things when in fact it opposes only its conception of things. There is a wide difference between opposing what really exists, and that which the opposer fancies or believes exists. This is perhaps a fair illustration of the difference between knowledge and belief.
When the fabled Don Quixote went forth to do battle against windmills he honestly believed that he was properly and valiantly performing the offices of true knight-errantry, and defending the honor and virtue of his fair lady. He was, however, laboring under a delusion.
He was but manifesting in fable this peculiar quality of mortal mind to which we have referred. All along the line of history we see that men have in many and sundry ways been fighting windmills as veritably as was the demented Spanish knight. When the ancients poisoned Socrates they did it under the delusion that he was an enemy and a dangerous man; whereas he was a friend and a useful man. When the Jews crucified the Saviour they did it under the delusion that he was an enemy to them and to the world. That was their conception of him. In truth he was the best friend they ever had or ever could have, for he came not to injure, but to save them; not to destroy, but to save the world of mankind. But for their false conception of him they would have known and recognized him as a friend, not an enemy. Those Jews who have awakened from the delusion that he was an enemy to their race, no longer oppose him, nor would they again crucify him. Their conception of him has changed.
