THE answer to the question (Ps. 8:4), "What is man, that thou art mindful of him?" is found throughout the Scriptures. In the first chapter of Genesis we read, "God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." In the following verses of this chapter we are told that God blessed this spiritual man and provided for his every need and that God was satisfied with His creation.
The second and third chapters of Genesis contain an entirely different account of both creator and creation. This account states that man was formed from the dust of the ground and was incomplete, disobedient, and liable to sin. The man formed from dust is not the man described in the opening chapter of Genesis. This man was created spiritually perfect in God's image and given dominion over all the earth. The so-called man formed from dust was not given dominion and eventually was banished from the Garden of Eden.
We learn in our study of Christian Science that the second account of creation is an allegory that presents a material sense of creation, which is not true either of God or of man. This allegory teaches us not to accept as real or true the testimony of the physical senses, which present man as a mortal. The allegory also teaches us not to identify ourselves with the sinning race of Adam. According to Christian Science, God is the only creator, and He has created all things spiritual and perfect; therefore no place is left for another creator or another creation.
