The following open discussion took place with four students in their teens who attend the Christian Science Sunday School in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and with three of the teachers from their Sunday School. They spoke with a contributing editor for the Journal. This discussion took place before the recent breakthroughs toward peace in Ireland, and shows clearly the importance of prayer and spiritual love in peacemaking.
Hazel Joynes: You live in the midst of what the media present to the world as extreme mental turmoil, with some sections of the Roman Catholic and Protestant communities unable to live peaceably as neighbors. In the Bible, our Master clearly commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves. What do you think Christ Jesus meant?
Jenny Sefton (student): As I learn to love myself as God's pure child, I am learning to love my neighbor as well. Until we can love ourselves spiritually, we can't really love anybody else in this way Everybody lives in God's kingdom and is our neighbor.
