NEVER probably in the world's history was there greater need for forbearance than there is today. Mortal mind appears at times to be rampant, urging to the limit its false material claims. Human will frequently seems to be violently in evidence, urging its apparent power ruthlessly against the peaceful desires of men. The result is that the world is kept in a state of anxiety, fearful lest evil will prevail and precipitate a cataclysm which may disastrously affect our whole modern civilization and cause anguish to untold millions.
Wherever human will is in evidence, wherever it asserts itself and tries to dominate, one thing is certain to follow if one is not on guard—a bitter sense of hatred. Mankind generally does not side with the evildoer; it instinctively resents his attempts to encroach on the province of good. Educated through long centuries to value righteousness, great numbers of the human race naturally oppose evil thinking and doing. But many, not knowing the truth which Christian Science reveals, namely, that evil is unreal, fail to restrain their feelings, and find themselves hating the evildoer and suffering in consequence. Without doubt, a great deal of the sickness manifest today is due to resentment at evil domination and hatred of the evildoer.
It can be said without hesitancy that the world's problems will never be solved if mankind continues to regard evil as real. And that is how the great majority view it today. Moreover, they regard evil as associated with persons, as inseparable from them. What, then, is more legitimate, they think, than to show their disapproval of those who practice evil by hating them! Mortals will continue to hate the evildoer, so long as they believe evil to be real.
