For centuries human beings have been observing how they resemble the creatures that walk, swim, and fly about them. People sometimes think of themselves as animals with two legs and certain other distinguishing characteristics. Then they blink and observe how different they seem to be from other creatures. People have language, music, art, humor, forgiveness, and reason, though some would argue that these, too, are present with many animals.
What if, instead of consisting of complex patterns of cellular material replicating themselves, real life turns out to be nonmaterial, the unfolding of spiritual identities reflecting one universal divine Mind? Christian Science insists that it is. In Science, attempts to explain animals as precursors of man, and man in terms of animal needs and instincts, become obsolete. Science makes clear that God is the only Life—measureless in perfection—expressing Himself in infinite individuality.
Finite human notions would explain Life, or Mind, as a product of material evolution. But physical, organic forms are forms of human belief, appearing, changing, disappearing. They are not actual substance independent of belief. Material concepts constitute all there is of limitation and harmfulness. The real individual expressions of Life are beautiful, good, and enduring spiritual ideas.
