The statement in Christian Science that error, or evil, is unreal, has called forth perhaps more criticism than any other of its teachings. It is, however, the only consistent position to take if the generally accepted concept of the nature of God as infinite and perfect is granted. The admission that God is either omnipresent, omniscient, or omnipotent at once destroys the possibility of evil having either power or existence. The only logical conclusion we can draw from the premise that God, or good, fills all space,—is omnipresent,—is that evil has neither presence nor reality, for if it exists at all it must be somewhere.
Again, if God is omniscient, knows all, then there is nothing else to know. He knows all as proceeding from Himself, from divine consciousness, wherein there can be no evil. His knowledge being perfect, He cannot know error as real or true, for that is impossible. If error could be known as true, it would cease to be error and would become truth; but the source of evil, or error, Jesus described as "a liar, and the father of it." The fact is, error cannot be known; it can only be believed. No one can know, for instance, that two times two is five. He may think it or believe it, but he cannot know it. God does not believe; He knows all, and all He knows is Truth.
If God is omnipotent, has or is the only power, and is good, then all power is true and good, and evil must therefore be devoid of power. If then evil, or error, is nowhere present, cannot know or be known, and is absolutely without power, what is there about it that can give it reality? By living consistently with the concept of a perfect God we are enabled to deal effectively with all error and prove its unreality. Having once seen that error is unreal, we must hold firmly and persistently to that fact. In "Unity of Good" (p. 9) Mrs. Eddy says, "By knowing the unreality of disease, sin, and death, you demonstrate the allness of God."
