In the struggle of humanity towards a better understanding of life and of the problems relating thereto, much consideration has been given to the factor which we call time. Nearly every review of human growth and achievement resorts to the comparison of one position or state of humanity with another, near or remote from the events under consideration. This before and after condition or positional relationship is one way in which time has been considered as relating to the past; and many false doctrines have been founded on beliefs involving past conditions which were considered either good or evil.
The modern natural scientists have begun to realize that a better understanding of the true nature of time is essential to more definite conclusions regarding fundamental laws. One such writer recently stated that there seemed to him to be no reason why time should flow steadily on, and that he was equally prepared to consider the possibility of time standing still or flowing backwards.
In Christian Science the phenomenon of time is interesting, for a higher understanding of it enables the Christian Scientist to do better work in the practice of his religion through increased ability to overcome the beliefs of limitation. Our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, has defined "time" in part on page 595 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" as "matter; error; that which begins before, and continues after, what is termed death, until the mortal disappears and spiritual perfection appears." From this it is self-evident that the overcoming of the belief in death, or beliefs of decay, destruction, or illusion, which may be termed elements of death, is the achievement toward which Christian Scientists should constantly strive. In the overcoming of death, time, as a human belief, would cease to be regarded as a factor in individual existence and unfoldment.
