Self-Examination is not only helpful but necessary in accomplishing the transformation of human thought from the material to the spiritual. It is often furthered by questioning one's self. As each inquiry demands a definite answer, one may begin making an effort toward improvement in one's thinking, thus bringing into experience greater and more lasting good and tending towards higher achievements for the betterment of mankind.
Our Way-shower, Christ Jesus, often questioned those who came to him for healing; and he sometimes questioned his disciples, thereby bringing to light their innermost thoughts, in order that his understanding of the Christ, Truth, might enlighten and benefit them. Mortals, reasoning from the false standpoint of material sense and material creation, need the correction which spiritual understanding alone can give.
The Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, discerning the spiritual nature of man as the likeness of God, Spirit, has become humanity's greatest benefactor since the Master brought to a benighted world the way of salvation from sin, sickness, and death. Christian Science is restoring the healing works which Christ Jesus instituted, thereby identifying it with pure Christianity. In her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," as well as in her other writings, our Leader frequently asks questions, thus arousing the interest of the student and inspiring him with the high purpose of searching for the truth he needs to know. The chapter entitled "Recapitulation" in this work is devoted entirely to questions and answers. The unbiased seeker reading the first question (p. 465), "What is God?" and pondering the profound and comprehensive answer, will probably ask himself, What do I believe about God? This question may expose many human beliefs, the product of man-made theories, dogmatic teaching, doctrines, and creeds, mostly predicated on a material concept of God. The answer to this vital question reads, "God is incorporeal, divine, supreme, infinite Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love." Meditating upon this wondrously beautiful definition of the creator, and realizing that all creation must partake of the nature and character of its creator, it would be only natural for one to ask, What is man? In the same chapter one finds a description of the substance and nature of man (pp. 475-477) conforming to the Scriptural account of the spiritual creation in Genesis, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion."
