Viewed from the standpoint of suppositional mortal existence, there appears to be something called human consciousness which is in need of regeneration, healing, and salvation. Were it not for this, there would have been no need for the Messianic mission of Christ Jesus, and there would have been no basis for his promise that in due time his Father would send another Comforter. Furthermore, there would have been no necessity for the Science of Christianity—Christian Science—which was discovered by Mary Baker Eddy in 1866 and later given to the world in her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures."
There is, however, nothing in the teachings of Jesus, nor in those of Christian Science, to substantiate the claim that mortal mind has any actual existence or divine reality. On pages 151 and 152 of Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy says: "That mortal mind claims to govern every organ of the mortal body, we have overwhelming proof. But this so-called mind is a myth, and must by its own consent yield to Truth." It is plain that since the mortal, human mind is a myth, its supposed consciousness is entirely mythical.
The so-called mortal mind is denominated by St. Paul "the carnal mind," and is designated by him as "enmity against God." Whether one calls this suppositional mind carnal, mortal, human, finite, or material makes no difference to its status, for all these terms may properly be used interchangeably. They are different terms for the same thing, and that is "nothing claiming to be something." (See Science and Health, p. 591.)
