Much of popular theology bases its views of man on both Spirit and matter. It sees man as a fallen creation of God and a being to whom sin is more or less natural but for which he can somehow be pardoned.
Christian Science bases its understanding of man wholly on the truth of Spirit as the only cause and sees true man as God's immortal image and likeness, unfallen and incapable of any kind of wrongdoing. Moreover, this Science proves evil to be no part of the real man and existent only as a false claim, or unreality, from which the human consciousness can be absolved.
In this way a claim of sin—of hatred, selfishness, greed, or whatever—is never ignored but is wiped out or progressively lessened through sincere repentance, spiritual understanding, and regeneration. Christianly scientific absolution can succeed when ecclesiastical pardon, material sacrifices, or even strong faith cannot. In short, as mankind understand that the substance of absolution is the demonstration in thought and act of God as divine Principle—Life, Truth, and Love—they will become progressively freer from the aggression of evil and of the depression and destructive guilt following in its wake.
