Chapter IV - Christian Science Versus Spiritualism
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produce flour, or if one animal can originate another,
produce flour, or if one animal can originate another,
how then can we account for their primal origin? How
were the loaves and fishes multiplied on the shores of
Galilee, – and that, too, without meal or monad from
which loaf or fish could come?
Mind is substance
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The earth's orbit and the imaginary line called the
The earth's orbit and the imaginary line called the
equator are not substance. The earth's motion and
position are sustained by Mind alone. Divest
yourself of the thought that there can be sub-
stance in matter, and the movements and transitions now
possible for mortal mind will be found to be equally
possible for the body. Then being will be recognized
as spiritual, and death will be obsolete, though now
some insist that death is the necessary prelude to
immortality.
Mortal delusions
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In dreams we fly to Europe and meet a far-off friend.
In dreams we fly to Europe and meet a far-off friend.
The looker-on sees the body in bed, but the supposed
inhabitant of that body carries it through
the air and over the ocean. This shows the
possibilities of thought. Opium and hashish eaters men-
tally travel far and work wonders, yet their bodies stay
in one place. This shows what mortal mentality and
knowledge are.
Scientific finalities
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The admission to one's self that man is God's own like-
The admission to one's self that man is God's own like-
ness sets man free to master the infinite idea. This con-
viction shuts the door on death, and opens it
wide towards immortality. The understanding
and recognition of Spirit must finally come, and we may
as well improve our time in solving the mysteries of being
through an apprehension of divine Principle. At present
we know not what man is, but we certainly shall know
this when man reflects God.
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The Revelator tells us of "a new heaven and a
The Revelator tells us of "a new heaven and a
new earth." Have you ever pictured this heaven and
earth, inhabited by beings under the control of supreme
wisdom?
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Let us rid ourselves of the belief that man is separated
Let us rid ourselves of the belief that man is separated
from God, and obey only the divine Principle, Life and
Love. Here is the great point of departure for all true
spiritual growth.
Man's genuine being
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It is difficult for the sinner to accept divine Science,
It is difficult for the sinner to accept divine Science,
because Science exposes his nothingness; but the sooner
error is reduced to its native nothingness, the
sooner man's great reality will appear and his
genuine being will be understood. The destruction of
error is by no means the destruction of Truth or Life, but
is the acknowledgment of them.
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Absorbed in material selfhood we discern and reflect
Absorbed in material selfhood we discern and reflect
but faintly the substance of Life or Mind. The denial of
material selfhood aids the discernment of man's spirit-
ual and eternal individuality, and destroys the erroneous
knowledge gained from matter or through what are termed
the material senses.
Erroneous postulates
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Certain erroneous postulates should be here considered
Certain erroneous postulates should be here considered
in order that the spiritual facts may be better
apprehended.
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The first erroneous postulate of belief is, that substance,
The first erroneous postulate of belief is, that substance,
life, and intelligence are something apart from God.
The second erroneous postulate is, that man is both
mental and material.
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The third erroneous postulate is, that mind is both evil
The third erroneous postulate is, that mind is both evil
and good; whereas the real Mind cannot be evil nor the
medium of evil, for Mind is God.
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The fourth erroneous postulate is, that matter is in-
The fourth erroneous postulate is, that matter is in-