In the physical sciences the term pure research can refer to exploring ideas out of inspiration or curiosity with no prior intention of producing a product. Some in industry and government may look upon this as wasted effort. Yet out of discoveries made in pure research often come remarkable inventions, even though these practical effects may appear much later. The properties of electricity were discovered years before the light bulb or the computer chip was invented.
While people who explore spiritual, or metaphysical, ideas may often have specifically in thought a goal of peace or healing, to strive to understand spiritual ideas for their own sake might be called pure metaphysical research. Could just wanting to understand God out of curiosity about ultimate causes lead to some unimagined discovery? Letting God lead us in exploring the Science of Christ brings us to our greatest spiritual discoveries. There are holy times when we yearn to know God; we are not asking "How can this solve my problem?" but "How can I really understand Truth?"
Mary Baker Eddy's was a lifelong search to know God. In 1866, after she rose from her bed, healed of the effects of an injury even as friends expected her imminent death, she wanted to know more about what had healed her. The Bible, which had always been so central to her life and which played a significant role in the healing, became even more the focus of her research as she sought to understand God's healing power. During this time did she anticipate founding a worldwide Church or writing a book that would leaven thinking and bring healing to millions? She was impelled by a great yearning to know more of God. She says: "The search was sweet, calm, and buoyant with hope, not selfish nor depressing. I knew the Principle of all harmonious Mind-action to be God, and that cures were produced in primitive Christian healing by holy, uplifting faith; but I must know the Science of this healing, and I won my way to absolute conclusions through divine revelation, reason, and demonstration." Science and Health, p. 109.
