Moral courage is rightly regarded as far superior to animal courage. The latter may spring up from partisanship, excitement, intoxication, or other errors, and it is in no way contingent upon excellency of character or honesty of purpose. Moral courage is recognized as pertaining to one's higher nature, but it is sometimes thought of as more likely to endanger its possessor than to ensure his safety.
Moral courage is associated with a willingness to stand for one's convictions in the face of probable or certain suffering. But Christian Science unfolds a more accurate and exalted sense of this desirable quality. On page 514 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy writes: "Moral courage is 'the lion of the tribe of Juda,' the king of the mental realm. Free and fearless it roams in the forest. Undisturbed it lies in the open field, or rests in 'green pastures, . . . beside the still waters.'" What a glorious picture this presents of a mental state which is serene and kingly, abiding in unassailable security, fearing no evil because it knows that there is none to fear!
Moral courage, then, rests upon a knowledge of the omnipotence of good. Christian Science teaches that God is infinite good, Principle, Mind, Soul, Spirit, Life, Truth, and Love; that His reflection or creation is man and the universe; and that nothing is real which has not its source in Him. In proportion as we understand, assimilate, and utilize these spiritual facts in our daily life, we are demonstrating moral courage. Since God is All-in-all, the menace of evil must be seen as nothing. Was it not this assurance of God's allness which strengthened Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, and led him, through obedience to divine Principle, to triumph over death and, ultimately, over every claim of life in matter?
