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YOUR QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Following the example set by the question-and-answer columns in the early Journals, when Mary Baker Eddy was Editor, this column will respond to general queries from Journal readers—such as the one above—with responses from Journal readers. It will not cover questions about how to interpret statements in Mrs. Eddy's writings. There's more information at the end of the column about how to submit questions.

YOUR QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

From the August 2006 issue of The Christian Science Journal


Christian Science teaches that God is entirely good and is all powerful and fills all space. Christian Science also teaches that evil is not real, but is only an illusion, or false belief. Why then doesn't the omnipresence and omnipotence of God preclude the illusion of false belief we call evil?

A1 The two most natural conclusions regarding the nature of evil are flawed or incomplete. The premise that evil does exist flies in the face of the goodness and allness of God; the premise that evil does not exist flies in the face of current experience.

Additionally, the hypothesis that we can be aware of error at one point, but, as we continue to grow, that awareness will fade like a dream, does not stand up to the logic of Truth. If God is all good and All-in-all, there cannot be anything apart from Him (past, present, future) called evil. If we, God's image and likeness, could be aware of error at any point, remembered or not remembered, then God would not be all good and All-in-all.

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