Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, makes use in her writings of many terms as synonyms for God. Perhaps, however, those most frequently read and quoted by students of Christian Science are the ones used by Mrs. Eddy on page 465 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," as follows: "Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love." That the use of these seven synonyms should not be construed to imply that there is more than one God is shown very plainly in the next paragraph on the same page, where, in reply to the question, "Are these terms synonymous?" the author says: "They are. They refer to one absolute God. They are also intended to express the nature, essence, and wholeness of Deity."
It is evident from the foregoing that the use of these and other synonyms for God is intended to enlarge, amplify, and expand the reader's concept of God and to help him gain a fuller and more comprehensive understanding of the divine nature. And there are other terms used by Mrs. Eddy in the textbook and her other writings which serve the same purpose. For example, she frequently refers to God as infinite good, as Father-Mother, as creator, cause, origin, as omnipotence, omniscience, omniaction, as intelligence, substance, Being, as I or Ego, and also as I AM.
The term I AM as a synonym of God is Scriptural, and authority for this statement may be found in the third chapter of Exodus, where God is recorded as saying to Moses, "Thus shall thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." The term I AM has a certain definiteness and finality that is found by students of Christian Science to be helpful and satisfying. It seems to convey a sense of the is-ness and the allness of the Divine Being, just as Mind reveals God to the reader as that which knows. And Christian Science teaches that God is the all-knowing Mind, the one universal, omnipresent, ever-active consciousness.
