ALL profound thinkers have seen the logical necessity for a concept of being apart from materiality, but with great pertinacity the majority of mortals have clung to the belief of a soul in body and partaking of the nature of the material rather than the spiritual. Not so long ago the possible location of the soul—whether it dwelt in the heart or the brain—was frequently discussed, sometimes in public debate, but little attention was given to its nature and potentiality. Even in the Scriptures we find the popular belief respecting the soul largely in evidence, and this is by no means an adverse criticism of their teachings; rather does it go to show that where human feelings and emotions are expressed in the Bible it is done with rare fidelity to the mental state of the individual. To illustrate: In the earlier chapters of the book of Job we are told, in substance, that God shared with the devil the government of the human family, and at the suggestion of Satan allowed the direst misfortunes to come upon a good man. Now this was undoubtedly the prevailing religious belief in Job's time, as it is to a large extent at the present; but it was not true, although the mistaken belief was responsible for Job's misery so long as he held to it. Later, he gained a truer concept of God, had a glimpse of His absolute justice and goodness, and this healed him and restored to him all that he had seemingly lost, and much more.
While in bondage to the belief in a power opposed to God, Job said, "My soul is weary of my life." He felt the crushing weight of belief in materiality when his earthly possessions were swept away and disease seemed to hold him captive, but when the trembling mortal concept was challenged by Truth, in the words, "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. . . When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" then Job answered, "I uttered that I understood not; . . . I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee." He had a glimpse of Soul as the divine Principle of the universe and man, and it restored his soul,— awakened him to spiritual sense,—and brought harmony to his entire being.
It is noteworthy that throughout the Scriptures the word soul is more frequently associated with the thought of sin and suffering than with good, showing how far the human thought had strayed from the true concept of Soul and spiritual being. In Science and Health we read (p. 477), "Soul is the substance, Life, and intelligence of man, which is individualized, but not in matter. Soul can never reflect anything inferior to Spirit." On page 482 we-find a simple rule by which we can always determine whether the word soul, as it occurs in the Bible, is used in its spiritual signification or otherwise. When the psalmist said, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul?" he voiced the mortal sense which could not see God, good; but when Mary said, "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour," she referred to that which reflects the light and glory of the divine ever-presence.
