Mankind is prone to classify individuals and to place them in certain categories. Men often depend on first impressions, form permanent opinions of others, sometimes negative, and adhere to their original classifications. False mind pictures are not easily eradicated and often bring unhappiness and suffering to the one so classified. How much better it is to maintain a right attitude toward our brother by discerning his perfect selfhood as a son of God. As we reject erroneous classifications through our knowledge of true identity as Christian Science reveals it, and look beyond the outward appearance, we shall learn to see man as God sees him. As one identifies his friends and companions only with the good, the true, and the immortal, the labels of false classification and false identification will drop away.
How often we place such designations as age, race, class, or temperament on those we meet. We continue to hold on to beliefs associated with an individual's past, when he may have long since abandoned them; he may have overcome some of the unlovely character traits with which he has been formerly identified. Our eyes are closed to his striving to be more Christlike—more conscious of his unity and sonship with God— and we continue to enlarge on the faults of bygone years.
To judge rightly one needs to follow the analysis which Mary Baker Eddy makes in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 252): "Christian Science classifies thought thus: Right thoughts are reality and power; wrong thoughts are unreality and powerless, possessing the nature of dreams. Good thoughts are potent; evil thoughts are impotent, and they should appear thus. Continuing this category, we learn that sick thoughts are unreality and weakness; while healthy thoughts are reality and strength. My proof of these novel propositions is demonstration, whereby any man can satisfy himself of their verity."
