In the country where the writer lives one can still see old castles and admire remnants of old town walls. Castle and town walls were very firmly built and were very thick. At night and in times of danger the gates were closed, and people felt safe behind their town's thick walls. The people behind the walls decided who could be allowed to pass through the gates as friend. Everyone else was foe,, had to remain outside, and could effect entry only by force.
Thus walls had different functions: they were meant to protect; they could divide. But they could also separate in such a way as to lead to the isolation of those living behind the walls. When one considers walls in a figurative sense, whatever their type and for whatever reason they are built, he can see, in the light of Christian Science, that they represent states of mortal mind.
"Walls" are still being erected—not visible, but nonetheless tangible. Thus, for instance, the acceptance of the belief in many minds separate from God, the one real Mind, often leads to misunderstanding between people. Such a wall of ignorance grows into prejudice and engenders opposition. How easily this can lead to self-justification and self-interest! Then sometimes stronger walls are erected —heated arguments and even war. These divisions can arise between individuals as well as between nations and races, and one can easily see that in the latter instance they are merely individual problems multiplied.
