"How would you define animal magnetism?" I was asked this question while being interviewed for membership in a branch Church of Christ, Scientist, many years ago. Being rather new in my study of Christian Science, I frankly didn't know how to answer. Animal magnetism was a term I hadn't paid much attention to. To help me out, the one who asked the question showed me a passage in Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy. It says: 'As named in Christian Science, animal magnetism or hypnotism is the specific term for error, or mortal mind. It is the false belief that mind is in matter, and is both evil and good; that evil is as real as good and more powerful. This belief has not one quality of Truth." Science and Health, p. 103.
The recognition that animal magnetism is the specific term for error and "has not one quality of Truth" stuck with me, and I've come to realize how very important this understanding is to the successful practice of Christian Science.
Healing comes through a clear, unwavering understanding and conviction that God, Spirit, good, is All-in-all; that we are God's children, made in His likeness; and that our true identity is spiritual, not material. Animal magnetism claims that our perfect and enduring relation to God can somehow be undermined or countermanded. It can't. We find a perfect defense against this claim in realizing that God is the only governor, and that because He is omnipotent and infinite, there is in reality no opposing power or force.
