The question "Why?" is a frequent guest in the thought of mankind. We are not content merely to examine effects: we want to know something about cause. Who has not considered the beauty, grandeur, and order of the universe with wonder as to the origin of all things? Again, who has not at some time questioned why there should seem to be evil to mar the perfection of creation? The theories propounded to explain the why of good and evil have been numerous and varied. In Christian Science individuals have found an answer that is both satisfying and complete.
The creator of all good is the benevolent Father-Mother God. His divine nature is reflected or imaged forth in a perfect spiritual creation, with infinite variety of expression and complete unity. An ancient writer saw this fact clearly when, in the first chapter of Genesis, he explained in beautiful figurative language the unfolding of infinite goodness. Here the ringing summary: "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good." It is not difficult to explain the good. One instinctively feels that there is a tender Father-Mother who is bestowing blessings upon all His children. Most people are willing to accept such an explanation of the origin of good. It is understandable and natural. And what is more, it is the only real. "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished." Infinite perfection is absolute, final, all. John Keats, the great English poet, glimpsed this vital fact when he wrote in his "Ode on a Grecian Urn," "Beauty is truth, truth beauty." As our consciousness is filled with the true knowledge of God, as we spiritually understand that reality is beautiful and true, we begin to see the heaven and earth of God's creating.
If mankind would only rejoice in God's creation! But no, men would know about evil—where it comes from, and what it is, when in fact it comes from nowhere and is nothing. Theories as to the origin of evil are worthless, for they deal with it as though it were real. Christian Science teaches that is the opposite of Truth: it is error, without a semblance of reality. It is like ignorance and darkness. These are not real, but negative conditions, the suppositional opposites of intelligence and light. In light there is no darkness at all. To the intelligent thinker ignorance is nothingness. To God and His man, is inconceivable, meaningless, unreal. Who would attempt to explain the impossible? On page 555 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy writes: "An inquirer once said to the discoverer of Christian Science: 'I like your explanations of truth, but I do not comprehend what you say about error.' This is the nature of error. The mark of ignorance is on its forehead, for it neither understands nor can be understood."
