IN Science and Health (p. 115), under the marginal heading "Divine image," Mrs. Eddy gives this definition of man: "God's spiritual idea, individual, perfect, eternal." And then she quotes the following definition of "idea": "An image in Mind; the immediate object of understanding.—Webster."
This true concept of man, revealed in Christian Science, is a mighty influence for good. The understanding of it heals sickness and sin, comforts, purifies, and forwards the new birth. The true concept enables mankind to leave traditional beliefs in the reality of matter and to realize that man is not a conglomeration of material images, drawn by the carnal mind, that he is not encased in a material body, subject to changing conditions of blood, bones, brain, flesh, and so on. In Science man is found to be the individualized idea of Spirit, therefore a spiritual compound of divine ideas, whose qualities have their source in the perfect Mind, God.
In her reply to the question, "What is man?" Mrs. Eddy includes these statements: "Man is idea, the image, of Love; he is not physique. He is the compound idea of God, including all right ideas" (ibid., p.475). As "the compound idea of God" man is constituted exclusively of divine ideas. Originating in divine Mind, these ideas are perfect and harmonious. Therefore man, "the compound idea of God," is imbued with perfection and health.
