THE declaration of Scripture that man is created in God's image and likeness, is the fundamental idea of Christian Science. Mortal man, so called, is simply a mortal and material belief about God's man. Mrs. Eddy tells us that "mortal man is the antipode of immortal man in origin, in existence, and in his relation to God" (Science and Health, p. 215). The real man is spiritual; he lives, moves, and has his being in God, and he cannot be separated from his creator.
Spiritual man recognizes no Mind but God, while mortal man believes in the reality and intelligence of the carnal mind. Paul tells us that "to be carnally minded is death," and so we have divine authority for concluding that the carnal mind has no true sense of life and reality. It thus becomes evident that to follow the leadings of the carnal mind is not the way to gain lasting harmony. Spiritual facts contradict material beliefs and correct the errors of mortal existence. In proportion as this is done, humanity escapes the discord and suffering incident to a false sense of existence and experiences in some degree the beauty and harmony of real being.
The Master declared that he was "not come to destroy, but to fulfil" the law; and when his teachings are understood and put into practise, nothing but good can result. "To be carnally minded is death," and so it follows that if one would gain life he must go contrary to the suggestions of the carnal mind. In no instance do the Master's teachings coincide with material beliefs ; they turn thought from the unreal to the real and establish harmony upon a spiritual basis.
