The words used in Christian Science to describe man as the idea of God— expression, emanation, manifestation, image, likeness—all indicate an outgoing activity, the reflection of the divine nature and character. This teaching is premised on the fact that the kingdom of heaven is within man and that it is man's nature to reflect this true being.
On the other hand, the mortal, material outlook on life is, on the whole, quite different. It's largely involved in a "getting" activity, the selfishly motivated action of obtaining or accumulating. If one starts with mortal mind, with the sense of lack, vacuity, limitation, then the liability is that thought turns inward and becomes selfish, negative, consuming, soaking up like a sponge, absorbed in materialism. This is the direct opposite of spiritual reflection.
One can ask himself these pertinent questions: "Do I reflect divine Truth, or do I absorb error? Do I enter my daily activity conscious of God's infinite goodness and with an unselfish motive, determined to express the nature of divine Love, to reflect God's beneficence? Or do I start my day with a negative sense of man, a sense of lack, seeking how I may obtain, gratify myself, consume instead of create?" Mortal mind has a parasitical tendency, feeding on others, "going along for the ride," getting something for nothing, consumed with self-pity, clinging to person rather than feeling the independence of the divine creative Principle expressed in man.
The right attitude of mind has much to do with one's development, his strength, his protection, happiness, and well-being. Rightly understood, man is complete idea. Starting from Principle, he manifests strength, not weakness. We express the nature of God in our ability to think and act under God's direction. Turning to God in prayer, we can realize the sustaining power of God, the guidance of divine Mind, the supply of Love's ideas and inspiration. We can feel the kingdom of heaven within. Then we can go forth with the right direction of thought— the understanding of reflection or expression—radiating the nature and power of divine Love.
A true sense of radiation and the divine nature of the one source and power nullifies the false belief of radiation and protects the individual from harm. The main difficulty lies with absorption—the absorption of false suggestions, not just the absorption of allegedly harmful radioactive materials.
We're taught in Christian Science to defend our thinking against aggressive suggestion. The Bible instructs us, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Prov. 4:23. And Mrs. Eddy tells us: "Beloved Christian Scientists, keep your minds so filled with Truth and Love, that sin, disease, and death cannot enter them. It is plain that nothing can be added to the mind already full. There is no door through which evil can enter, and no space for evil to fill in a mind filled with goodness. Good thoughts are an impervious armor; clad therewith you are completely shielded from the attacks of error of every sort. And not only yourselves are safe, but all whom your thoughts rest upon are thereby benefited." The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 210.
The love going out or reflected from one's consciousness counteracts any evil that might be directed toward him. The antidote for hatred is always its opposite, divine Love. Christ Jesus proved this in his victory over his enemies. The radiation of Spirit—the reflection of the divine nature, or the Christ—counteracts the beliefs of murder, destruction, deterioration, death. Mrs. Eddy, as the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, had to meet the suggestions of evil in their most virulent forms. A member of her household recalled that she gave this instruction: "The holy sense of God as All and Love, and that there is no other Mind, is the best way to meet the malicious arguments of evil." Irving C. Tomlinson, Twelve Years with Mary Baker Eddy (Boston: The Christian Science Publishing Society, 1966), p. 84 .
In the present age the question naturally presents itself: Is one able to defend himself from the effects of nuclear radiation from industrial accidents, nuclear waste disposal, the testing of weapons systems? These tough issues demand intelligent answers; and basic spiritual truths do lead us to positive conclusions. The coming of the nuclear age doesn't make evil real. Evil has always been an impostor, a lie.
Anything that happens must be motivated. A single bullet or an arrow can be as lethal to the individual as the largest bomb if one concedes power to evil. But if Mind, God, is understood as the only motive power of man, this can help prevent accidents or the destructive use of nuclear power. And one can also protect himself against foolish or willful evil in the form of terrorism. Jesus demonstrated God's protecting power and taught his followers how to overcome evil with good. The divine Mind isn't helpless before ignorant or willful evil.
Through fear, the belief in evil, one absorbs the effects of evil. Through disbelief in evil and the conviction and understanding that God is omnipotent good, one can counteract the effects of evil. If we think of man as a chemical creature and of life as material, we're on the plane of belief where one might logically fear atomic radiation. But if we understand that Life is Spirit and that man is a spiritual idea, the reflection of the divine Mind, we come into the secret place where Mind, divine Love, is supreme. Here it's reasonable to demonstrate that we're out of reach of, or immune to, evil radiation.
It continues to be necessary to face evil as the lie and to find out that we don't believe in it. Evil may assume different forms in different eras, but it is essentially false mentality, mortal mind. And it is destroyed by the fact that there is one Mind, one God, who is absolute good. Mrs. Eddy says: "The spiritual sense of Life and its grand pursuits is of itself a bliss, health-giving and joy-inspiring. This sense of Life illumes our pathway with the radiance of divine Love; heals man spontaneously, morally and physically,—exhaling the aroma of Jesus' own words, 'Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.'" Miscellaneous Writings, pp. 19-20.
Spirit is the only real source or cause. Intelligence is the radiation of Spirit. True radiation is spiritual, pure, wholesome. Man expresses the divine intelligence of Love.
As in all prayer and metaphysical reasoning, the true idea destroys the false belief. The true idea of radiation, the radiation of Spirit, destroys the belief in a false or evil sense of radiation that harms. When we find out that because of the all-power of divine Love, evil has no power, we find release from the fear of evil in whatever guise it presents itself. Jesus' teachings aren't in the least outmoded by present-day developments.
And when we find out that man isn't an absorber of evil belief but the reflection of the divine nature, we'll come free from the effects of harmful thoughts or harmful radioactivity. We can prove that we are "hid with Christ in God" Col. 3:3. and out of the reach of error or evil.
