THE Science of Christ, or Christian Science, is the law of God, good, unfolding the boundless resources and divine power reflected by spiritual man and the spiritual universe. It is the knowledge of God with us in scientific demonstration.
This Science reveals the Principle underlying all that is spiritually good in every field of human endeavor. Under its liberating effect, thought applied to technological developments acts to reduce needless processes, eliminates costly mistakes, preserves the life of men and their work, dignifies the individual, glorifies God.
In this second half of the twentieth century, the natural sciences have become the deep concern of the humanitarian, statesman, educator, and economist. However, the possible misuse of scientific discoveries for selfish purposes hangs as a threat over all nations.
In a sincere effort to offset the dangers which their discoveries have brought to mankind, natural scientists have recently been seeking for what they term "a science of survival," a way to remove from society the destructive elements which sometimes claim to control men, a method to make the sciences of more practical value in the international scene.
Only the Science of Christ can bring to mankind the peace, growth, health, and economic sufficiency which are the desires of the human heart, because it is the Science of divine Life and Love.
When it is more generally accepted that man is God's idea, governed by the one universal Principle, the true value of this Science in its relation to mankind will be made more practical. Then it will seem scientific to break through the barriers of sickness, conflict, inertia, greed, which claim to obstruct mankind's pathway to harmony, freedom, and abundance, as well as to chart new pathways in outer space for the mastery of the heavens.
In a statement quoted in The New York Times, Dr. Arnold J. Toynbee, speaking as a member of a panel of eminent scientists and scholars, said: "No human beings have got very far yet in the exploration of the spiritual universe. The new worlds with whose life it is now most urgent for us to make contact are the spiritual worlds within ourselves."
The new worlds for which many are seeking are to be found in the awakened realization that man is coexistent with God, creative and universal Mind. Because of his unity with God, spiritual man reflects the understanding of the Mind which is God; he is endowed with the vision of Truth; he lives by the authority of Principle; he acts with the power of Love.
The teachings of Christian Science are practical in daily living, for all true living reveals and unfolds the eternal realities of Truth, of heaven and earth and man. These teachings place within the grasp of men the scientific knowledge inherent in the universal Mind and show them how to utilize this knowledge to bring safety, abundance, and health into the vast fields of mankind's experience. When men let the universal laws of God govern their lives, their worlds of activity are blessed. Thus is this Science of Christ made practical.
The farmer who understands and increasingly expresses the spiritual nature of God's reflection may by utilizing this Science protect his crops from blight, and the housewife may prove that God's law of intelligence, direction, and supply is applicable to the rearing of her children and the running of her household. Similarly, the businessman may illustrate that man's provision is in infinite Mind and that the divine economy governs business and his private affairs as well. The statesman who allows his life to be governed by divine Principle will work to advance God's leadership for his nation.
In the same manner, the natural scientist may discover that the grandeur, order, and richness of heaven, sea, and earth, which he is exploring, are characteristics of his own real being as God's image and likeness.
Mind and its infinite manifestation are inseparable. Because matter has no place in Mind, it is without true entity. All is Spirit and its harmonious expressions, with each identity, or idea, evolving eternally according to God's laws. In God's universal realm, man's destiny is safe, for nothing can interfere with what exists in the eternal Mind.
Mrs. Eddy makes these statements in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 23): "The universe, including man, is not a result of atomic action, material force or energy; it is not organized dust. God, Spirit, Mind, are terms synonymous for the one God, whose reflection is creation, and man is His image and likeness." And she concludes the paragraph by saying, "All must be Mind and Mind's ideas; since, according to natural science, God, Spirit, could not change its species and evolve matter."
Fear, destructiveness, the acquisition of matter, and disease are reduced to nothingness through the Science of Christ. The laws of Life are laws of Spirit, in which matter does not exist to control, contaminate, or destroy man or the universe. This understanding is the law of preservation, of health, and of progress to mankind. It declares the all-power and all-action of God, divine Principle, and demonstrates them in practice.
Christ Jesus was the greatest Scientist the world has ever known, and the reappearing in this age of the religion and therapeutics understood, lived, and demonstrated by the Master is of great moment. Jesus said (John 10: 10), "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." He also said (Luke 17: 20, 21), "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."
When Jesus quieted the storm, he proved the presence of God's power to subdue the lawless, turbulent elements of matter, or mortal mind. When he appeared immediately on the other side of the Sea of Galilee, he demonstrated that the true image reflects God's omnipresence; when he healed the sick, he showed the power of Christ, Truth, to bless mankind. The human Jesus was loving and wise. His resurrection from the tomb did not make him so exalted that he could not return to his disciples and feed them, spiritually and humanly, inspiring them to carry forward the great cause of Christianity and its mission of healing, blessing, and saving mankind.
Speaking of the Master, Mrs. Eddy says in "Retrospection and Introspection" (pp. 91, 92): "His holy humility, unworldliness, and self-abandonment wrought infinite results. The method of his religion was not too simple to be sublime, nor was his power so exalted as to be unavailable for the needs of suffering mortals, whose wounds he healed by Truth and Love."
The Science of Christ unfolds the Love which holds precious every manifestation of life, for God is Life. This Science has a noble purpose, for its unfoldments and fruits are for the spiritualization and regeneration of mankind. It is compassionate, rooted in Life, Truth, and Love.
In Miscellany, Mrs. Eddy prophesies (pp. 266, 267): "It is undoubtedly true that Christian Science is destined to become the one and the only religion and therapeutics on this planet. And why not, since Christianity is fully demonstrated to be divine Science? Nothing can be correct and continue forever which is not divinely scientific, for Science is the law of the Mind that is God, who is the originator of all that really is."
