In our economy, inflation and deflation are familiar terms. Fear of them is expressed by many people, and anxious thought is given to ways of avoiding their costly consequences. The classical economist refers to some of these ways as "hedging." But the materialist's basis of reasoning concerning the entire question is that inflation and deflation have a real place in our economy and that one or the other is expected to occur periodically. It always has been that way, they say, and it always will be. Any Christianly scientific thinker will immediately deny reality to such material reasoning.
The connotations of the words "inflation" and "deflation" are obviously strictly material. In Christian Science, matter is held to be, and proven to be, unreal and untrue on the basis of the allness of Spirit, matter's opposite. Then reasoning from a material standpoint cannot provide one with a sound or dependable premise from which to proceed. Because in reality there is no matter, there is no basis to a material standpoint, no principle underlying it, no foundation upon which solid and lasting propositions can be laid. But rightly viewed, material beliefs can and do point to truly substantial things. Seekers for satisfying answers can find them if they will separate fable from fact, as Christian Science teaches one to do.
In her book "Miscellaneous Writings," Mary Baker Eddy states with deep discernment (pp. 60, 61), "Every material belief hints the existence of spiritual reality; and if mortals are instructed in spiritual things, it will be seen that material belief, in all its manifestations, reversed, will be found the type and representative of verities priceless, eternal, and just at hand."
