One of the most important, practical aspects of Christian Science is that it shows one specifically how to protect himself from evil in its various forms. Through daily study and frequent prayer the individual establishes a sense of unity with God and becomes confident that the trials of daily life cannot overwhelm him. The precepts of Christian Science thus give him the spiritual armor of ethical, self-disciplined thinking with which to combat evil in every form or guise.
Evil is not a thing, but a false belief, an aggressive suggestion. Two of the names for evil, or error, used in Christian Science are animal magnetism and mesmerism. But, as one biographer of Mrs. Eddy writes, "In their last analysis these are names for the nonactivity of nothing and not appellations for mysterious power." Mary Baker Eddy: Her Mission and Triumph by Julia Michael Johnston, p. 82.
Since evil is a false mental state, it must be mentally counteracted. Paul counsels, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."Eph. 6:11. Many spiritually mental qualities constitute this impenetrable armor, among which are obedience to law, alertness, and self-control. When discord or disease appears, this indicates that some error in our thought is claiming to have law, presence, and power. Then we must confront this error with faith and persistence in using the truths we know of divine Principle's ever-presence and omnipotence, truths that overcome discord.
