Chapter XV - Genesis
Mental midwifery
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fruit was bringing forth fruit of its own kind, there
fruit was bringing forth fruit of its own kind, there
came a suggestion of change in the modus operandi, –
that man should be born of woman, not woman again
taken from man. It came about, also, that instruments
were needed to assist the birth of mortals. The first
system of suggestive obstetrics has changed. Another
change will come as to the nature and origin of man,
and this revelation will destroy the dream of existence,
reinstate reality, usher in Science and the glorious fact
of creation, that both man and woman proceed from
God and are His eternal children, belonging to no lesser
parent.
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Genesis iii. 1-3. Now the serpent was more subtle than
Genesis iii. 1-3. Now the serpent was more subtle than
any beast of the field which the Lord God [Jehovah] had
made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said,
Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the
woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of
the trees of the garden: but of the fruit of the tree which is
in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat
of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Mythical serpent
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Whence comes a talking, lying serpent to tempt the
Whence comes a talking, lying serpent to tempt the
children of divine Love? The serpent enters into the
metaphor only as evil. We have nothing in the
animal kingdom which represents the species
described, – a talking serpent, – and should rejoice that
evil, by whatever figure presented, contradicts itself and
has neither origin nor support in Truth and good. Seeing
this, we should have faith to fight all claims of evil, be-
cause we know that they are worthless and unreal.
Error or Adam
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Adam, the synonym for error, stands for a belief of
Adam, the synonym for error, stands for a belief of
material mind. He begins his reign over man some-
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what mildly, but he increases in falsehood and his days
what mildly, but he increases in falsehood and his days
become shorter. In this development, the im-
mortal, spiritual law of Truth is made manifest
as forever opposed to mortal, material sense.
Divine providence
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In divine Science, man is sustained by God, the divine
In divine Science, man is sustained by God, the divine
Principle of being. The earth, at God's command, brings
forth food for man's use. Knowing this, Jesus
once said, "Take no thought for your life,
what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink," – presuming
not on the prerogative of his creator, but recognizing God,
the Father and Mother of all, as able to feed and clothe
man as He doth the lilies.
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Genesis iii. 4, 5. And the serpent said unto the woman,
Genesis iii. 4, 5. And the serpent said unto the woman,
Ye shall not surely die: for God doth know that in the day
ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened; and ye shall
be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Error's assumption
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This myth represents error as always asserting its su-
This myth represents error as always asserting its su-
periority over truth, giving the lie to divine Science and
saying, through the material senses: "I can
open your eyes. I can do what God has not
done for you. Bow down to me and have another god.
Only admit that I am real, that sin and sense are more
pleasant to the eyes than spiritual Life, more to be de-
sired than Truth, and I shall know you, and you will be
mine." Thus Spirit and flesh war.
Scriptural allegory
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The history of error is a dream-narrative. The dream
The history of error is a dream-narrative. The dream
has no reality, no intelligence, no mind; therefore the
dreamer and dream are one, for neither is
true nor real. First, this narrative supposes
that something springs from nothing, that matter pre-
cedes mind. Second, it supposes that mind enters matter,