John the Baptist prophesied the coming of one "whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." This vivid statement might seem alarming were it taken to refer to persons, but Christian Science interprets Scriptural metaphor scientifically. On page 586 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy defines "fan" as "separator of fable from fact; that which gives action to thought."
The average human being is educated to believe that he is a mixture of good and evil propensities, and that the power which evil claims to have may prevail over his right desires and aims. He is therefore apt to find himself in a constant state of conflict and confusion. Into this situation comes Christian Science with the "fan," the "separator of fable from fact." What is fable and what is fact? Material sense, beholding only materiality, stands for fable. Matter can seem to be real only from the standpoint of mortal mind, and this so-called mind is the unreal counterfeit of the one infinite Mind, God. Neither this mind nor its fictitious evidence truly represents God, man, and the spiritual creation.
The physical senses have no means of cognizing Spirit and the spiritual creation. Just so spiritual sense, the reflection of Spirit, God, cognizes only the real, eternal, and harmonious. Therefore, spiritual sense stands for spiritual facts. Christ Jesus said, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." This righteous judgment, denying falsity and upholding man's perfection, is developed and utilized in the teaching and healing ministry of Christian Science, which is the promised Comforter.
