IF one's conclusions are drawn from the testimony of the five physical senses, how precarious and unstable existence seems to be! Sin, disease, poverty, and calamity of all sorts appear to surround one. On all sides strife and woe seem to abound. Problem after problem presents itself to the harassed mortal, forcing him to seek refuge from the dangers and disappointments of mortal existence; to look for relief and salvation through the assistance of some power above and beyond his own limited sphere. He joins in "the universal search for God—the great collective adventure of humanity."
Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 171), "Mistaking his origin and nature, man believes himself to be combined matter and Spirit." Thus through dependence upon belief instead of understanding, mortals become victims of ignorance; superstition and fear control their reasoning. There has been built up a false concept of existence composed of lie added to lie until, accepting falsity for reality, they have believed the delusion that man is an individual personality with a physical body. In the body each particular "I, myself," is supposed to be imprisoned. Each is said to have a mind separate from that of any other similarly situated. Furthermore, this combination of so-called mind and matter is believed to constitute one's selfhood and be the possessor of a specific life that may at any time be destroyed through circumstances over which the individual has no control.
The life of this "self" is assumed to consist of a consciousness experiencing sensations. These sensations are supposed to be conveyed through nerves, through the physical senses— sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell —presenting to this so-called consciousness the evidence whereby one becomes aware of phenomena existing or taking place outside of the physical body. Consequently, it is reasoned that if through an accident or some destructive force this physical body should be demolished or annihilated, the mortal ego no longer having matter as a medium through which to experience sensations, consciousness would become unconscious—no longer experience awareness; that oblivion would result and mortal man perish.
