To some extent the world has agreed that an individual's thought affects his health and well-being. But thought is considered to be just one of countless factors influencing us, many of which are believed to be more or less beyond our control. Christian Science explains how influences thought to be uncontrollable can be effectually eliminated through scientific prayer. Science reveals that all experience is ultimately mental, and furthermore, that all real being is spiritual.
The Christian Science textbook, Science and Health, challenges the reader to explore the dimension of Spirit. On the first page of the Preface to her revolutionary book Mrs. Eddy asserts, "The time for thinkers has come." Science and Health, p. vii; In order to be scientific Christians, capable of demonstrating the truths of practical Christianity, we need to be thinkers. We must be willing to open our thought to the pure Christ and to be thorough in eliminating anti-Christian elements. Then we can feel the harmonizing influence of the divine consciousness and recognize its presence. This consciousness is the one divine Mind, God, embracing all being within its own infinitude.
There is nothing mysterious or remote about divine consciousness. In fact, divine Mind is our only real consciousness. Mrs. Eddy directs reason to reject evil thinking as unreal in this way: "The children of God have but one Mind. How can good lapse into evil, when God, the Mind of man, never sins?" ibid., p. 470;
