How is it possible to think of evil as unreal?
Many besides Christian Scientists are willing to agree that Deity, the supreme power of the universe, by whatever name described, is good. But as they approach the consequent conclusion, the unreality of evil, they draw back.
The acceptance of this conclusion, without reservation, is a unique element in the teachings of Christian Science. It is essential, for it is part of their absolute basis.
If, however, the acceptance of this conclusion were to be left as abstraction in thought, beautiful but undemonstrable and impracticable, it would not be Christian Science. In this Science, spiritual truth must not be viewed at a distance. It demands demonstration and proof of its availability. The unreality of evil is a point most strongly resisted by many people when they first question Christian Scientists as to their convictions. Therefore Christian Scientists need to be equally strong in their reasoning and in their use of this basic point.
How can one find the way to comprehend a statement of truth that seems to be so vast in its implications? A clear glimpse came to me one day as I read this sentence by Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science: "Thus it was that I beheld, as never before, the awful unreality called evil."Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 110;
"Thus," a little word, seldom used in conversation today, became potent as I looked back to the preceding paragraph. Here Mrs. Eddy writes: "The three great verities of Spirit, omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience,—Spirit possessing all power, filling all space, constituting all Science,—contradict forever the belief that matter can be actual. These eternal verities reveal primeval existence as the radiant reality of God's creation, in which all that He has made is pronounced by His wisdom good."ibid., pp. 109-110;
"Thus," Mrs. Eddy explains, she "beheld, as never before, the awful unreality called evil."
Is not this the way in which we too must see it? By proceeding from the understanding that God, Spirit—omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient—is wholly good, and that so also is His creation, allowing for no opposite?
If you come into a country entirely new to you, you may be astonished at the vastness of some view. You look at it, and you wonder if you could ever find your way there, let alone establish a home there. As you become an explorer in Christian Science, you often have a similar experience. You glimpse a stupendous truth, and you wonder if you can ever fully understand it, let alone demonstrate it. You wonder if, more than merely gaining a glimpse, you can establish a way of life based on it.
This is especially true when one gets a first view of the fact that evil, however horrific it appears, is actually unreal. Then is the time to realize why this glimpse has come to you. It is because you have first looked on the infinitude of good, on the nature of God and God's creation, and so are able to echo Mrs. Eddy's words, "Thus it was that I beheld, as never before, the awful unreality called evil."
It isn't evil itself that has been seen, but its utter unreality: for the infinitude of good precludes the possibility of evil in any form.
But having seen this much, where do we go from there? Having had this great glimpse, how do we keep our feet steadily on the paths of demonstration? First of all, by remembering to do so moment by moment, day by day. There's no situation in which we cannot quickly turn thought to the infinitude of God's goodness and in the light of its radiant reality discern the allness of good. Then again and again we will find that what seemed so wrong in the situation had no actuality with which to sustain itself and that it has vanished.
Evil cannot be made unreal. It always has been and always will be unreal. What we have to do is see its unreality in the light of the allness of God, good.
Christ Jesus knew that evil is unreal and that he could prove it so. Didn't he say in the Garden of Gethsemane, when his enemies came to seize him: "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?" Matt. 26:53, 54;
Jesus could have called on the ever-present power of God to rescue him from the crucifixion. Why didn't he? Wouldn't that have been a striking proof of his sonship with God? But that would not have fulfilled his mission to awaken human thought as did the course he took. At that period in the world's history, there was no other way in which to make clear to humanity that because of the total unreality of evil a man could go through the worst that it could do and yet emerge triumphant because of his demonstration of the allness of good.
Mrs. Eddy writes of this: "The Master's sublime triumph over all mortal mentality was immortality's goal. He was too wise not to be willing to test the full compass of human woe, being 'in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.'" She continues, "Thus the absolute unreality of sin, sickness, and death was revealed,— a revelation that beams on mortal sense as the midnight sun shines over the Polar Sea."Unity of Good, p. 58.
Now that this final revelation of the allness of good and the consequent nothingness of evil has appeared in Christian Science, shouldn't we be able to demonstrate greater immunity from bad experiences? Yes, of course we should, but there is only one way in which we can. And that is by growing in knowledge of the nature of God, who is infinite good, and of God's perfect manifestation. The Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science was too wise to claim more for herself than she could demonstrate. In fact, she did demonstrate remarkable dominion. But not without steadily maintaining absolute truths in thought and steadily applying them in daily life.
Have you sometimes heard someone say, "I believe in Christian Science, and I live as good a life as I can. Why doesn't that give me total immunity from trouble? Why should I have difficulties to meet? I feel discouraged." Such a time may be crucial in the experience of an individual. How can we help?
Perhaps the best thing is to do all we can to open up a fresh view of the glory of God, of "the three great verities of Spirit, omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience,—Spirit possessing all power, filling all space, constituting all Science." Thought that confines itself to belief in anything less than these divine verities is not fully open to the power that bestows immunity from evil, however blameless an individual's human conduct may be.
We have much to do to enlarge our comprehension of the divine glory, which outshines even the possibility of evil being real. Accepting this necessity, we still need not be taken in by either of two common suggestions. One is that we deserve immunity just because we believe in a denomination called Christian Science, without continual practice of its teachings in every way. The other is that we must inevitably experience troubles in order that we may learn. If we will only learn when we are not in trouble, troubles need not arise.
Spiritually gained immunity from the results of evil suggestion is a considerable demonstration. It may not make a striking public testimony. It is seldom spectacular. It is certainly not a subject for self-congratulation. But it can more and more become the experience of anyone who learns to be familiar with "the three great verities of Spirit." In their radiance one may increasingly practice the way of spiritual understanding and prove the unreality of evil.
