It is probable that the Israelites of Old Testament times did not generally accept the fact of individual immortality. Even in the New Testament, disputes on this subject between Pharisees and Sadducees are referred to. (See Acts 23:6, 7.) However, the Hebrews, from the time of Abraham, probably believed in the immortality or indefinite continuance of their race or nation. It is recorded in the book of Genesis that when the Lord appeared to Abraham he said: "And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."
Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, emphasizes in her writings the eternal persistence of individuality. For example, on page 259 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," she says, "Man is not absorbed in Deity, and man cannot lose his individuality, for he reflects eternal Life; nor is he an isolated, solitary idea, for he represents infinite Mind, the sum of all substance." This citation constitutes a sufficient refutation of any and all claims that the teachings of Christian Science are in the least like those of Oriental philosophies which teach individual man's eventual absorption into Deity and the consequent loss of his identity. There is nothing more certain, according to Christian Science, than that man's individuality will endure eternally.
Individual man is that which individually expresses the divine nature. In other words, he is the individual expression of Being, consciousness, Life, Mind. He is Mind's infinite, universal expression of itself individualized. And Mrs. Eddy says (ibid., p. 477): "Identity is the reflection of Spirit, the reflection in multifarious forms of the living Principle, Love. Soul is the substance, Life, and intelligence of man, which is individualized, but not in matter."
It is evident that individual man as the individualized idea of God is individually perfect, individually complete, and that he reflects the attributes of his creator or divine Principle. Therefore, he expresses the qualities of immortality and indestructibility; hence he can never be annihilated, absorbed, obliterated, or extinguished.
The term generic relates to genus, kind, or family, and Mrs. Eddy says on page 515 of Science and Health, "Man is the family name for all ideas, — the sons and daughters of God." Thus it may be said that, so to speak, all individuals belong to the "man family," and that all individuals taken together comprise the universal brotherhood of man, expressing the infinite fatherhood and motherhood of God.
One individual cannot be merged with another or take the place of another; nor can one individual depend upon another for anything or deprive another of anything. All depend upon divine Principle for existence, continuity, supply, health, happiness, and immortality. Divine Principle alone is the source of their being and maintains their individuality or identity as forever distinct and inviolable.
The individual ideas of God, Spirit, Mind, express a divine sense of coordination, but not a human sense of interdependence. The understanding of individuality or identity does not, however, result in separation, aloofness, or isolation, but on the contrary establishes, in human experience, an ever-increasing sense of righteous co-operation. It unifies men and does not encourage a selfish sense of independence which is unwilling to consider the needs of others. Rather does it encourage a tender regard for the welfare of others without engendering a false, fearful sense of responsibility.
Furthermore, recognition of the indestructible nature of individual man and of his eternal unity with divine Mind, destroys the fear of separation from Life, God, and increases one's conscious faith in immortality. Christ Jesus, as quoted in the Gospel of John, said: "Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: as thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
Through the inspired writings of our beloved Leader and her spiritual interpretation of the words and works of the Master, Christian Scientists are beginning to understand, and measurably to demonstrate, that to know God "is life eternal." They are seeing, as they progress in the understanding of Christian Science, that to know is to be, or to put it a little differently, knowing is being. And this knowing or being is an individual experience. One cannot know God for another, for the simple reason that one cannot think for another. One person may help another to know how to think, but he cannot do his thinking for him. Therefore, the working out of one's salvation with the help of Christian Science must sooner or later become an individual experience.
The kingdom of heaven or government of divine Principle is within individual consciousness. It is established through individual right thinking. It cannot be attained vicariously, nor can it be found en masse. It can be universally experienced only as it is first individually realized. The establishment of the kingdom of heaven on earth can come to pass only through the perhaps slow, but nevertheless sure process of individual spiritual enlightenment.
Man, then, individually and collectively, expresses the divine unity or oneness with God, eternal Life, which constitutes immortality. He is forever conscious of his likeness to and oneness with divine Principle. For this reason he can never be assailed by fear of separation from the one Life, and consequently cannot be made to believe that an experience called death or any other thing or circumstance can for one instant deprive him of conscious spiritual individuality or identity.
