The word "man" is used in Christian Science in an individual and a collective, or generic, sense. When used in an individual sense, it refers to a single man. When used in its collective, or generic, sense it is the name for all men, the brotherhood of man, the entire manifestation of God. For instance, on page 591 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy defines man in a generic sense thus: "The compound idea of infinite Spirit; the spiritual image and likeness of God; the full representation of Mind."
Individual man is essential to, and is ever conscious of, his oneness with "the full representation of Mind," generic man. Individuality does not separate individuals from the full manifestation of God, but unites them in scientific unity therewith. "Ye . . . are builded together for an habitation of God," says Paul. The fact that man is individual does not lessen in any degree the indivisible oneness of God's manifestation, but specifically identifies it. Says Mrs. Eddy, "God is individual, and man is His individualized idea" (No and Yes, p. 19). Without individual man there could be no collective man. Without sunbeams there could be no sunshine.
Individual man equals in quality, but not in quantity, the "full representation of Mind." Manifestly the individual cannot be the entire expression of God. But individual man is an individually complete expression of Mind. His is the ability to reflect all of God's ideas in the order of their God-appointed unfoldment, throughout eternity.
