Two students of Christian Science one day were discussing the practicality of spiritual understanding—its ability to meet all human needs. One of the students quoted our Leader's words (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 307), "God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies." In all earnestness and sincerity the other student asked, "What is a spiritual idea?"
No doubt many another seeker for Truth has asked the same question and pondered the possibility of a human need being met with a spiritual idea. Let us suppose the need is a very material one, such as dollars and cents to meet an obligation; or necessary food to sustain existence; or the solving of a physical problem. To the material senses it often seems that there is such a wide divergence between the human needs and spiritual ideas that it would be impractical to rely upon these ideas to supply our needs. The senses sometimes argue that this is an exceedingly intangible and transcendental stand to take in view of a pressing or imminent need. But is it? What does Christian Science say in answer to these queries: "What is a spiritual idea?" and, "How can these ideas be of practical use in demonstrating substance in daily affairs?"
In answer to the first question the following statement by our Leader gives us a clear explanation of how to discern a spiritual idea (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 88): "How are veritable ideas to be distinguished from illusions? By learning the origin of each. Ideas are emanations from the divine Mind." She adds, "Ideas are spiritual, harmonious, and eternal." And a little farther down on the same page Mrs. Eddy gives a practical illustration of a spiritual idea: "To love one's neighbor as one's self, is a divine idea; but this idea can never be seen, felt, nor understood through the physical senses."
