A FAITHFUL study and application of Christian Science bestows upon the student spiritual understanding, which reveals the true nature of man's individuality. It is upon the Christianly scientific understanding of man's spiritual being as the expression of Spirit, God, that the student successfully demonstrates the healing and regenerating truths of Christian Science. In her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy makes this striking disclosure (p. 317): "The individuality of man is no less tangible because it is spiritual and because his life is not at the mercy of matter. The understanding of his spiritual individuality makes man more real, more formidable in truth, and enables him to conquer sin, disease, and death."
In everyday language the term "individuality" usually applies to human personality, which in some instances embodies outstanding characteristics, or, contrariwise, personal limitations and peculiarities. Human personality may be attractive, yet at the same time fearful, sick, or sinful. Thus it is not the likeness of God, which the Bible says is man's true nature; and therefore human personality is unreal.
Man's selfhood is not the product of material sensation, mortal conception, and human birth, nor is it at the mercy of so-called material law. Man is not the inevitable victim of sin, disease, decrepitude, and death; neither is he a helpless victim, tributary to the vagaries of the carnal mind or subordinate to the five physical senses. In God's man the divine nature is individualized in all its sublime grandeur, glory, and immortality. The understanding of man's tangible individuality enables us to overcome fear, hatred, sin, sickness, and death.
