"THE CARDINAL POINT IN CHRISTIAN SCIENCE"

The student of Christian Science soon learns that Christian Science differs radically from all other religious systems on certain points of fundamental importance. So pronouncedly is this the case that some who perceive this difference regard it as so revolutionary as to preclude their going farther with the study. On the other hand, there are those who, while they admit the teaching of Christian Science to be radical, even revolutionary, are so persuaded of the accuracy of its reasoning that they proceed with their study and become devoted Christian Scientists, faithful in their endeavors to put the truths they learn into practice.

What does Christian Science teach, and wherein does its teaching differ from that of other religions, even from other Christian systems? It teaches that God is Spirit, and that He is infinite good. This declaration would probably be accepted by the great majority of Christians. But Christian Science goes farther and affirms that, because God is infinite Spirit, matter is unreal, and because He is infinite good, evil is unreal. Here is where Christian Science differs, radically differs, from other religious systems. Let there be no doubt about it—in affirming that God, Spirit, good, alone has real being, Christian Science maintains that matter and evil have no actual existence, that they do not exist as real entities.

Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, states the position plainly on page 27 of "Miscellaneous Writings." She writes: "That God, good, creates evil, or aught that can result in evil, —or that Spirit creates its opposite, named matter,—are conclusions that destroy their premise and prove themselves invalid. Here is where Christian Science sticks to its text, and other systems of religion abandon their own logic. Here also is found the pith of the basal statement, the cardinal point in Christian Science, that matter and evil (including all inharmony, sin, disease, death) are unreal." From this it is seen that when Christian Science declares matter or evil to be unreal, it means that material or evil phenomena of every kind are unreal, including those phenomena regarded by mortals as the scourges of mortal existence.

The teaching of Christian Science is revolutionary to material sense; it cannot be otherwise and be true to God, infinite good. One wonders why some should be unwilling to accept its teaching when it is so logical and so manifestly true to God. It would seem as if they were not prepared to deny the evidence of the material senses, which argue for the reality of matter and evil and the phenomena associated therewith. Be that as it may, Christian Science makes its appeal to every rational individual, expectant that he will respect his right to exercise independent judgment on the spiritual truth it presents. And it would have him remember that the teaching of Christian Science should be judged by its fruits—the effects it produces in the lives of those who accept its teaching and practice it.

Whenever one learns of God's infinite goodness and evil's nothingness, it becomes apparent that God is omnipotent, and that there is no real power opposing Him. This is the same as saying that God is supreme over all. As Mrs. Eddy writes in "No and Yes" (p. 24): "There was never a moment in which evil was real. This great fact concerning all error brings with it another and more glorious truth, that good is supreme." God, good, is omnipotent, supreme. Think what the understanding of this means to those who possess it! By holding to the truth of God's omnipotence or supremacy, they overcome the belief that matter or evil has power; and this makes itself evident in dominion over materiality in all its forms. This may seem strange doctrine to those who are uninstructed in divine Science, and who believe in the reality of that to which material sense testifies, but the fact is that it can be proved. Whoever realizes the truth of God's allness and the supremacy of good, cannot be conscious of matter or evil and its supposititious effects as real.

Another consideration of great importance is that the understanding that God is good, and evil unreal, supports true prayer. We pray aright when we affirm the supremacy of God, good, and deny reality to evil —deny that evil has either presence or power. This is the prayer which of a surety is answered, the prayer which protects, heals, and saves. Our Leader puts it simply and clearly when she says (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 33), "It is the righteous prayer that avails with God," adding, "Whatever is wrong will receive its own reward." Only righteous prayer availeth; only righteous prayer can heal the sick and save the sinner; only righteous prayer, that is, prayer based on the understanding of the supremacy of good and the unreality of evil, can protect from the belief that evil has power to injure.

The words just quoted are significant—"Whatever is wrong will receive its own reward." This is a fact on which mortals should ponder. Those who continue in wrong thinking and wrong doing are snaring themselves, for sin carries with it its own punishment. Evil is doomed to extinction by virtue of the fact of its unreality. Too often do mortals stand before the evil thinker and evil doer in fear lest his threatenings will bring disaster upon them. Christian Science shows that this fear can be overcome by spiritual understanding, and the threatening claims of evil silenced. God is infinite good. Good is supreme, and evil is without reality or power.

"Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them," said Jesus (Matthew 7:19, 20); and again, "Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up" (15:13). The Master did not fear evil, because, in the light of God's allness, he knew its nothingness. Did not he say to his disciples (Luke 10:19), "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you"?

These words of the Master show how radically he relied on God, how confident he was in the power of Truth. His teaching gave his disciples dominion "over all the power of the enemy." And his teaching, scientifically interpreted by Christian Science, is giving his followers today the same dominion. All manner of healing is taking place through the understanding of God's allness, of good's supremacy, and of the unreality of matter and evil—"the cardinal point in Christian Science."

Duncan Sinclair