A KNOWLEDGE of what constitutes reality is a primary essential in all metaphysical study. Every system of religion and philosophy has attempted to define reality. When we understand what is real, we know what is unreal, and we can no longer be deceived by a false claim to reality. Salvation depends upon a knowledge of what is real and what is not real. Jesus performed acts which seemed wonderful to the ignorant and unspiritual. What he did was based upon a knowledge of the difference between the real and the unreal. Life meant vastly more to him than it did to the materialist, whose concept of God was material, who lived for matter, and believed that he lived by it. Christ Jesus had experiences which could not possibly come to his less spiritual followers, hence his lofty isolation and their failure to understand him. His healings were possible because he saw clearly the difference between the real and the unreal. The same clear spiritual vision heals to-day, and the mission of Christian Science is to restore such spiritual vision.
If the doctrines of Christian Science were to be reduced to the form of a syllogism, they would appear somewhat like this:First premise: "There is one God." Second premise: "God is Spirit;" infinite, individual being; the only creator of all that is. Conclusion: All that is, all that has genuine being, is like God, like Spirit. Nothing exists which is unlike or contrary to this great First Cause.
It will be observed that, theologically speaking, there is nothing unique about Mrs. Eddy's premises They are Scriptural, and are the same premises which lie, in theory at least, at the base of all Christian creeds. The only difference between Christian Scientists and other orthodox Christians seems to be that Christian Scientists do not hesitate to adopt the conclusion which inevitably follows their Scriptural premises, while other religionists seek to avoid the results of an inexorable logic. One writer has very well said, "We must never forget that a complete conclusion is just as binding as the premises from which we reason; and, no matter how daring it appears, we should never falter before that conclusion."
