On pages 115 and 116 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy reveals the steps of translation to be taken in reaching the immortal and spiritual idea of Life. She has called this transition "Scientific Translation of Mortal Mind." This translation is here represented as taking place in three stages, or degrees. The first degree is styled "Depravity" and includes the physical sense of life, all that is evil and perishable. This is the province of mortal mind and therefore refers only to that which is mortal and temporal. Sin, sickness, and death are included in this degree, which illustrates the false consciousness that must be put off.
When consciousness is advanced in spiritual knowledge, a brighter, happier state of existence unfolds. Thus the second degree, termed by Mrs. Eddy "Evil beliefs disappearing," begins to appear, and moral qualities, such as humanity and honesty, are in the ascendant. In this degree the mortal consciousness is permeated with the first gleam of moral and spiritual enlightenment and illustrates the Christian view of life and its Christianly scientific meaning.
In the third degree, "Understanding," we are lifted into the realm of the spiritual, where mortal mind disappears and the immortal life is brought to light. In this degree the government of man is divine Science, which, when applied to humanity, is named Christian Science.
