As far back as human history records, men and women have reached out for the truth of their own being. They have striven for good, that with it they might elevate human living. This inward yearning, this pure desire for good, has evidenced the Christ, the divine idea of sonship finding expression in human consciousness and impelling men to rise higher than the physical, cultural, and spiritual levels on which they have progressively found themselves.
As human thought has advanced spiritually, and a clearer understanding of God and His laws has been attained, many have come to a conscious recognition and acceptance of the Christ-idea as the actuating force in all real progress. This uplifted sense, refining and purifying human experience, leads to the manifestation of true humanhood, of which Mary Baker Eddy writes in her book "Unity of Good" (p. 49), "The more I understand true human-hood, the more I see it to be sinless,—as ignorant of sin as is the perfect Maker."
In her writings Mrs. Eddy sometimes uses the word human interchangeably with the word mortal. But more often, as on page 200, lines 4–7, of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," she gives "human" the higher meaning of the consciousness through which the immortal qualities of Mind are shining. The divine influence in human consciousness is the impulsion to think and do good, and wherever it is permitted to enter and permeate thought, spiritual light and well-being appear.
