WHEN one believes something to be true which is false, he is said to be in error. Whenever he learns the truth, the lie which he had mentally entertained is overcome; or, in other words, he is no longer in error regarding that particular something. This is very simply exemplified in the case of a child who believes that four times four is fifteen: he is in error about four times four. Let him learn that four times four is sixteen, and the error is met; the truth has destroyed the lie.
In Christian Science practice the destruction of error by the truth is being constantly demonstrated. It is the method used in the healing of disease and sin; indeed, of error of whatsoever kind. Disease, as Christian Science shows, is always primarily mental, being the effect of false belief, accepted either voluntarily or involuntarily; and the sickness will appear to persist until the erroneous belief is destroyed by the truth, that is, by the right spiritual idea. As Mrs. Eddy puts it in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 233), "The counter fact relative to any disease is required to cure it."
To illustrate: fear is a cause of much distress, often of sickness. How can the error of fear be overcome? By knowing a suitable counter fact or spiritual idea. This idea might well be that God, Love, is infinite. Let the truth be realized, the truth that Love—omnipotent Love—is ever present to the exclusion of all purporting to be its opposite, and the result will be the overcoming of the fear and the healing of the disease resultant therefrom. Again, the counter fact required to destroy fear might be the truth that God is infinite good. If the truth that good alone is real and present be realized, fear is certain to be destroyed; and with its destruction relief from the sickness consequent upon the fear will be experienced.
