Why does God allow evil (or accidents) to happen?
In order to discipline me when I was growing up in Iran, a family member told me I was possessed by the devil. In the East, people are scared of evil spirits, so I was petrified of myself all the time. I didn't dare look in the mirror in case I caught a glimpse of the devil hidden inside me. Even later in life, when my children no longer needed a night light, I kept it on for myself because I was so afraid of the dark.
When I began studying Science and Health, it told me something different: "From Love and from the light and harmony which are the abode of Spirit, only reflections of good can come" (p. 280). If I was the reflection of a God who is Love, I reasoned, then I couldn't have anything evil in me—only "light and harmony." I opened to this Love with the knowledge that there was no darkness in me. In this way I came to realize that there are no demons, devils, or evil forces anywhere that can hurt me or anyone else. My fear had been based merely on my superstitious childhood beliefs. I finally turned the night light off for good.
