The time may come when the twentieth century will be designated as the period in which occurred the greatest struggle between individualism and conformity with the mass. On one side of this struggle are those who feel driven to think with the crowd. On the other side are the individualists who wish to do their own thinking. They refuse to conform to accepted beliefs, and they often have a difficult time because they will not adjust themselves to society. Mankind need to understand both individuality and conformity in the light of Truth.
Christian Science reveals a way whereby everyone may retain and develop his individuality and yet be in harmony with his fellow men. This way is achieved through obedience to divine law, a way perfectly exemplified by Christ Jesus. The Master was assuredly individualistic. He stood out from the mass as no other individual has ever done. He went against the popular trend of thought. But at the same time he was in conformity with divine law, was loving God supremely and his neighbor as himself. This is the conformity which is needed. Mankind will achieve perfect integration in the measure that those who comprise society conform to God's law. The same achievement is true of lesser units, such as the church, the home, the business organization.
The fact is that obedience to divine law, conformity with God's will, confers freedom and eliminates constriction. This obedience demonstrates the individual activity which God's law unfolds in infinite expression. A good illustration of the freedom conferred by conforming to law is found in musical composition. It was knowledge of and obedience to the laws of counterpoint that gave Johann Sebastian Bach his remarkable freedom of expression. Instead of restricting his genius, his obedience to law liberated it. One might say that his genius was his obedience.
