Through the study of Christian Science the fact that health is a condition of Mind is being more generally accepted by mankind. As a result of this, many of the false beliefs concerning health are being relinquished. Mary Baker Eddy writes in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 120): "Health is not a condition of matter, but of Mind; nor can the material senses bear reliable testimony on the subject of health. The Science of Mind-healing shows it to be impossible for aught but Mind to testify truly or to exhibit the real status of man." An understanding of "the real status of man" includes an understanding of health and of body.
Mrs. Eddy explains in various ways in her writings that man is the idea of God. As the truth of man is more clearly discerned through spiritual sense, the false belief that man is a mortal, possessing a material body, fades away—ceases to assume reality to us. On pages 115 and 116 of Science and Health we may read the "Scientific Translation of Immortal Mind" and the "Scientific Translation of Mortal Mind." The definition of "idea" as given by Webster is quoted here and is worthy of consideration. "Idea" is defined as "an image in Mind; the immediate object of understanding." This definition enables us to understand more fully the Bible record of creation. In Genesis (1:26) we read, "God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." Since man is the image or idea, and idea is "the immediate object of understanding," man must reflect the intelligence of Mind at all times.
As one understands his real self to be God's idea, he finds himself beholding body and health as they really are, spiritual and perfect. The great teacher Paul had a clear concept of body, for he wrote (I Cor. 3:16, 17): "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? ... The temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." The definition of "temple" as given in Science and Health is helpful in this connection. It reads in part (p. 595), "Temple. Body; the idea of Life, substance, and intelligence; the superstructure of Truth." Body is presented here as idea; hence we see that, in reality, body is not a static or passive mass of matter. It could never be materially structural or organic. The only true body, or identity, is constituted of spiritual ideas.
