Writing on the subject of atonement more than sixty years ago, Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, said, "The time is not distant when the ordinary theological views of atonement will undergo a great change,—a change as radical as that which has come over popular opinions in regard to predestination and future punishment" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 24). That this prophecy has been fulfilled is evidenced by the fact that during the years since it was made many thousands have come to see that atonement is not a vicarious experience, but is one which comes to each individual in the measure of his realization of the divine fact of man's unity with God, that man—the son of God—has no existence or consciousness apart from infinite divine Principle, Life, Truth, Love.
Christian Science has enabled unnumbered thousands to see that no sacrifice, however great, made by any individual, however good, could of itself be sufficient to save others from sin, even though such sacrifice were acknowledged with reverent gratitude. And the reason for this is that salvation from sin comes only through radical change in one's own thinking and conduct. No one, however much he may desire to do so, can effect this change for another, because one individual cannot do another's thinking for him. One may show another how to think truly, but the other must sooner or later correct his own thoughts and acts. Recognizing this to be a fact, Mrs. Eddy writes (ibid., p. 24), "Does erudite theology regard the crucifixion of Jesus chiefly as providing a ready pardon for all sinners who ask for it and are willing to be forgiven?" And she answers this question on the same page, as follows: "The efficacy of the crucifixion lay in the practical affection and goodness it demonstrated for mankind." The practical value, then, of the sacrifice made by the God-anointed Teacher, Christ Jesus, lay in the proof he gave of the power of Spirit, Life, Love, to overcome the mortal beliefs of matter, evil, hatred, death. His followers must, however, prove for themselves the omnipotence of divine Mind, as Jesus did, and thus demonstrate that they understand his precepts and profit by his example.
With her keen perception of the exact, scientific nature of the atonement of Jesus, and with true appreciation of its marvelous import to mankind, our Leader writes on page 18 of Science and Health: "Atonement is the exemplification of man's unity with God, whereby man reflects divine Truth, Life, and Love. Jesus of Nazareth taught and demonstrated man's oneness with the Father, and for this we owe him endless homage. His mission was both individual and collective. He did life's work aright not only in justice to himself, but in mercy to mortals, —to show them how to do theirs, but not to do it for them nor to relieve them of a single responsibility."
