In her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy writes (p. 206), "Can there be any birth or death for man, the spiritual image and likeness of God?" This question is concerned with the real man and his origin; and until the truth of man's original being is seen, we can never arrive at the right understanding of spiritual man. This understanding, moreover, clears up the belief in spiritualism—a subject to which our Leader has devoted an entire chapter in her textbook, thus indicating the importance of understanding the implications of this error regarding spiritual life. The whole fabric of so-called spiritualism is built up primarily on the belief of life in matter and material personalities. From this false premise proceed the erroneous beliefs concerning this so-called material existence, its pains and pleasures, its ills, and the consequent prolonging of these in mortal consciousness.
This subject is likewise closely connected with the belief in heredity, for, as long as the belief is held that life originates in matter and obtains in finite personalities, the belief in heredity will not be met and destroyed. On page 84 of Science and Health our Leader has written, "To understand that Mind is infinite, not bounded by corporeality, not dependent upon the ear and eye for sound or sight nor upon muscles and bones for locomotion, is a step towards the Mind-science by which we discern man's nature and existence. This true conception of being destroys the belief of spiritualism at its very inception, for without the concession of material personalities called spirits, spiritualism has no basis upon which to build." The real man has existed always as the expression or idea of God, and man's individuality is the likeness of his Maker.
Many cases where healing seems protracted, or stubborn resistance is encountered, may be accounted for by the fear of some disease or weakness being communicable, or handed down through successive generations from parent to child. Christian Science is ever the Comforter, coming to us in our darkest hours with the understanding of Truth and Love, to lift us out of fear and despondency.
