SPIRITUALITY VERSUS INTELLECTUALITY

The word "spirituality" is derived from the Latin spiritus, breath, or from spiro, I breathe. Paul said, "To be spiritually minded is life and peace." Two other words, derived from the same root, indicate two of the highest mental qualities; namely, "aspiration," the yearning for a knowledge of the divine nature, and "inspiration," the conscious reception of that nature. Spirituality is defined by a dictionary as "far from worldliness; the quality of a thing that proceeds from the highest and finest faculties; the faculty that gives a feeling of confidence; belief in divine things." Intellectuality, by the same authority, means "that which distinguishes man from brute; the faculty of perception or thought; the faculty . . . that knows, as distinguished from the sense that feels or the will that chooses; the power to reason or judge; the [human] understanding." Academic training is an aid in the cultivation of intellectuality, while divine Mind is the direct source of spirituality.

The words "intellect" and "intelligence" are often used interchangeably in the world of letters, but in Christian Science they are not considered as synonymous. To verify this statement look closely at the works of Mrs. Eddy. In all her writings the terms "intellect" and "intellectual" occur thirty-six times; while reference to "intelligent" and "intelligence" is made several hundred times. Mrs. Eddy frequently speaks of divine intelligence, but never of the divine intellect. Thus it would appear that in Christian Science the term "intellect" refers to the higher qualities of human thought, by no means to be ignored, yet not to be confounded with intelligence, a quality of divine Mind. Spirituality is an expression of divine intelligence, a manifestation of divine wisdom. Intellectuality, on the other hand, being of human origin and growth, is a more or less systematized knowledge of human experience or physical so-called science.

Let it be clearly understood, however, that Christian Science does not put the stamp of approval upon human ignorance. On the contrary, correct teaching of the human thought is essential and in accord with Christian Science. (See Science and Health, p. 195, lines 19-25.) The training that enables men to broaden and enrich human conditions, making them serve the higher interests of humanity, is of value. The danger arises from satisfaction in the pursuit of human knowledge to the exclusion of that tireless search for the kingdom of righteous thinking, which quest the greatest Teacher of all time made of paramount importance. Mere intellectuality does very little toward the successful termination of this search. Its perception being of human knowledge rather than of divine wisdom, it fails to see those things which must be spiritually discerned; hence Paul's remark, "Whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away."

At the age of twelve, Jesus was wise enough to confute the men of learning of his time by the questions that he asked and answered. Certainly his education had not been obtained in the usual way; literally, he had been taught of God. He was the master Metaphysician of the ages; yet how simple, how direct his teachings! In that marvelous Sermon on the Mount,—the most complete, profound, yet simplest presentation of ethics to mankind,—we find small trace of the abstruse phrases of so-called intellectual metaphysics. He knew that it was the spirit of his teachings that would bring life, health, holiness, to humanity; that the letter alone killeth. He used parables with which to present and illustrate a given point, symbols and figures, when they served to elucidate; but never did he submerge in a chaotic sea of intellectual expression the spiritual truth which he came to impart.

The tendency to exaggerate the importance of the symbols of the Scriptures rather than to apply the truth therein to daily living, to become involved in the metaphysics of Christian Science rather than in the application of spirituality in the solving of daily problems, is a menace to our Cause that should be sedulously guarded against. It is apt to degenerate into another phase of the love of prestige and power. It suggests a desire for precedence. "Who shall be greatest?" Intellectualism might answer: The one who possesses the most, controls the most, or knows the most. When our Master saw this danger, he "called a little child, and set him in the midst of them;" and then said: "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."

One's power to heal is measured by his genuine spirituality. Has a merely intellectual statement of Truth ever destroyed sin or raised the dead? Has the ablest exponent or critic of the Scriptures ever healed sickness on the basis of such knowledge alone? The study of the Bible, its historic, poetic, epistolary, or narrative structure; its unique prophecies, so wonderfully fulfilled; its stories of the lives of the spiritual leaders of antiquity, and of the one perfect model of all time,—such research is necessary and good. But one should not become so engrossed in this investigation that he fails to apply the truth revealed therein. It is better to be a doorkeeper at the temple of spirituality than to dwell in the tents of abundant human learning. Had we time we might prove that every nation that has cultivated the intellectual at the expense of its spirituality has fallen into destruction, for intellectuality alone has no abiding divine Truth in it.

We who have turned to Christian Science have enlisted in the mightiest battle of all history. The foes to be exterminated are the strongest of all time,—sickness, sin, and death. Is it not necessary, then, that we gird ourselves with the spiritual armor and take to ourselves the only weapon that can make victory possible— spiritual understanding? Paul gives us definite information as to this equipment in the sixth chapter of Ephesians, verses eleven to seventeen.

Truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, and the Word of God are enumerated as the essential armor in this great battle; of intellectuality no hint appears. Whether we have it, or do not have it, need not stand in our way. The true Christian Scientist, however, will not become a mental sluggard; nor will he remain under the domination of ignorance, which is certainly a foe to rapid spiritual progress. Our revered Leader, while a woman of culture and education, yet foresaw the danger of being lured into the byways of mystical research, where the human intellect holds sway, but which, after all, is only the carnal or mortal mind somewhat educated in belief. She therefore enjoins us to keep the teachings of Christian Science pure and "uncontaminated and unfettered by human hypotheses" (Christian Science Quarterly, Explanatory Note) . This purity is achieved and maintained by the realization that true consciousness is spiritual; and it is this spiritual understanding, instead of human intellect, that accomplishes the work in Christian Science. Our Leader verifies this in one of her beautiful hymns (Poems, p. 75):—