The promotion of universal equality and freedom through material systems of regimentation is doomed to failure because such methods do not take into account the spiritual facts of being. Instead of freeing men to express their God-bestowed capabilities, these methods stultify individual initiative; instead of unifying men and nations in brotherhood, they estrange them.
Regarding the rights of man, Mary Baker Eddy has this to say in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (pp. 225, 226): "Men and women of all climes and races are still in bondage to material sense, ignorant how to obtain their freedom. The rights of man were vindicated in a single section and on the lowest plane of human life, when African slavery was abolished in our land. That was only prophetic of further steps towards the banishment of a world-wide slavery, found on higher planes of existence and under more subtle and depraving forms." And in the next paragraph she continues, "The voice of God in behalf of the African slave was still echoing in our land, when the voice of the herald of this new crusade sounded the keynote of universal freedom, asking a fuller acknowledgment of the rights of man as a Son of God, demanding that the fetters of sin, sickness, and death be stricken from the human mind and that its freedom be won, not through human warfare, not with bayonet and blood, but through Christ's divine Science."
Very evidently Mrs. Eddy knew that the vindication of man's rights restored to each individual the opportunity to strive for and express spiritual perfection, which alone ensures equality. It is significant, also, that she foresaw the disappearance of even more subtle forms of slavery which would tempt and deceive men.
The teachings of Christian Science reveal that true equality is a spiritual state of consciousness in agreement with God, and not a condition of matter or of uniformity with persons, groups, races, or human standards. They reveal that spiritual perfection is man's true status as God's image or idea; for since God, Life, Truth, and Love, the Principle of all being, is perfect, man as God's reflection is also perfect. They reveal unmistakably that the one infinite God, good, the divine Mind, is the Father of all and has bestowed upon His creation an equal heritage of good. This heritage, however, is spiritual. It consists of spiritual ideas and thought qualities which emanate from the divine Mind, Life, Truth, and Love. Man possesses them by reflection.
Thus the real man, made in God's image, is not a mortal, struggling in a material, unjust, unequal world, at the mercy of persons or circumstances. He is a spiritual idea, reflecting the limitless capacities of Mind, the beauty and loveliness of Love, the peace and harmony of Soul, the integrity and freedom of Truth, the vitality and activity of Life, the purity and refinement of Spirit, and the steadfastness and uprightness of divine Principle. He is not subject to discrimination, aggression, or regimentation. He is perfect, free, and eternally conscious of his completeness in God.
While these facts are contrary to the belief that man is humanly conceived and subject to material restrictions, evil, and disease, Christian Science nevertheless explains that they comprise the truth of being, which all men are under the necessity of proving. It concedes that this is not accomplished en masse or likely to be achieved in a day. Regeneration, the prerequisite of demonstrating perfection, is individual, brought about by consecrated endeavor to understand God and to express godliness. It necessitates the purification of thought and daily Christian living. It demands that animality, sensuality, ignorance, malice, greed, selfishness—all evil or materiality— be supplanted by spirituality, love, purity, unselfishness. It calls for humility, compassion, industry, nobility, and spiritual understanding. It demands acceptance by the individual of his responsibility to uphold godliness in personal, governmental, and international affairs. Our great Exemplar, Jesus, overthrew the money-changers' tables, rebuked irreverence toward God, and proved God's power by healing the sick, casting out sin, and raising the dead.
The problems of discrimination and inequity, which have in part instigated the movements toward regimentation as a means of equalization and greater freedom, are questions not so much of race, economics, color, class, or nationality, as of degree of enlightenment, spirituality, and Christliness. Christian Science reveals that the entire material structure discriminates against God and His son, the real man, or the true selfhood of every individual. Therefore this Science advocates for all the self-examination implied in the words of the prophet Ezekiel, who wrote (18:25): "Ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?"
Christian Science also makes clear that everyone is free to be Christlike, to be loving, meek, courteous, tolerant, courageous, industrious, and resourceful. It explains that every individual, regardless of race, color, or nationality, can strive for and express spiritual perfection through proving himself to be the son of God, who reflects God's impartiality.
Christian Scientists, who cherish the welfare of mankind and would further true freedom and equality, are not deceived by those influences which would, through the subtleties of domination and other forms of animal magnetism, level the social order down to human standards, rather than elevate it to spiritual heights. They keep clear their understanding and vision of divine Love, for it is sometimes under the guise of love that material methods purporting to equalize and free, operate and thus deceive.
In their claim to promote equity these methods take from one and give to another without regard for individual rights or mental and spiritual attainments. They excuse ignorance and condone evil by encouraging selfishness, irresponsibility, indigence, and false ambition. Lacking the wisdom, farsightedness, and universality of divine Love, they would force issues, pervert justice, and jeopardize human welfare. Divine Love, on the other hand, does not regiment; it cognizes only spiritual perfection, and thus uplifts, heals, regenerates, equalizes, and frees. Love reflected in human action exercises impartial justice, advances individual initiative, encourages accuracy and co-operation, and causes mankind to progress.
The unwise zeal that would place individuals in positions of responsibility to which they have not mentally and spiritually grown, or that would cause the acceptance of such positions, is not in accord with divine Love. Nor is the attempt to break down the bars of established customs and force the equalization of individuals the way of divine wisdom. Such actions stem from envy, false pity, patronage, and blind ambition; hence they sustain inequality and injustice and thwart the brotherhood of mankind. Our wise Leader's observation is pertinent on this point, for she says (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 371), "But mixing all grades of persons is not productive of the better sort, although he who has self-interest in this mixing is apt to propose it." And farther on she adds: "To sympathize in any degree with error, is not to rectify it; but error always strives to unite, in a definition of purpose, with Truth, to give it buoyancy. What is under the mask, but error in borrowed plumes?"
Christian Science does not condone autocracy or any form of injustice emanating from a sense of either inferiority or superiority. It advocates the emulation of the Christ ideal as the sole unifying and equalizing factor among men. It recognizes, however, that wisdom, discretion, and consideration for the common good are essential in maintaining harmony in human affairs and promoting the progress of all mankind.
If all men, irrespective of race, color, or nationality, understood and respected their spiritual status as sons of God, heirs of all good, they would strive for godliness instead of endeavoring to equalize themselves with each other on a material basis. They would then gain a self-respect which does not acknowledge discrimination. It is selfishness and a false sense of values which induce the climb for place and power through personal influence rather than through earned merit. It is mental and spiritual laziness which resents discrimination, instead of meeting the demands of spiritual perfection; it is, to quote an old saying, yielding to the temptation to warm oneself by another's fire rather than to build one's own.
In place of the attempt to equalize on a material basis, Christian Science advocates the spiritualization of thought and life in conformity with the Christly standard. Its students pray that men, nations, and races may find agreement in God, equality with one another, and the free way of life harmonious in Christ's divine Science. On this fundamental point Mrs. Eddy is definite, for she writes (Science and Health, p. 340), "One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfils the Scripture, 'Love thy neighbor as thyself;' annihilates pagan and Christian idolatry,—whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political, and religious codes; equalizes the sexes; annuls the curse on man, and leaves nothing that can sin, suffer, be punished or destroyed."
