ONE of the most fallacious beliefs of the human mind is that life eternal is to be gained only by passing through the experience called death. The supposition that the attainment of immortality must be postponed until so-called death, has held the human race in bondage, and prevented the appearing of the salvation which is at hand.
Today, deep-rooted theological opinions on this subject are gradually changing through the influence of Christian Science, which is based upon the Bible. Ezekiel voices the divine counsel, "I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye." Centuries earlier, Moses realized the great truth of spiritual being and admonished the people to love and obey God, saying, "He is thy life, and the length of thy days;" and later, David emphasized the continuity of true individuality by declaring, "The Lord is the strength of my life." Other writers perceived the nature of eternality as entirely apart from and in no way connected with death and dissolution. And Christ Jesus claimed ever-present life for himself, thus virtually declaring that because God was his Life, he was living spiritually; and this rendered the relationship indissoluble.
An important point in the teaching of Christian Science is found in the first of six Tenets given by Mary Baker Eddy on page 497 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," which reads, "As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life." In the light of the definition of "eternal," as "of infinite duration; everlasting; without beginning or end," Christian Science explains the absolute facts of life and existence. When it declares that Spirit alone is Life, it has as its authority "the inspired Word of the Bible."
