Chapter X
Science Of Being
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we
have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have
handled, of the Word of life, . . . That which we have seen and heard
declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and
truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.
– JOHN, First Epistle.
Here I stand. I can do no otherwise; so help me God! Amen! –
MARTIN LUTHER.
Materialistic challenge
268:1
IN the material world, thought has brought to light
IN the material world, thought has brought to light
with great rapidity many useful wonders. With
like activity have thought's swift pinions been rising
towards the realm of the real, to the spiritual
cause of those lower things which give im-
pulse to inquiry. Belief in a material basis, from
which may be deduced all rationality, is slowly yielding
to the idea of a metaphysical basis, looking away from
matter to Mind as the cause of every effect. Material-
istic hypotheses challenge metaphysics to meet in final
combat. In this revolutionary period, like the shep-
herd-boy with his sling, woman goes forth to battle with
Goliath.
Confusion confounded
268:14
In this final struggle for supremacy, semi-metaphysi-
In this final struggle for supremacy, semi-metaphysi-
cal systems afford no substantial aid to scientific meta-
physics, for their arguments are based on
the false testimony of the material senses as
well as on the facts of Mind. These semi-metaphysical
269:1
systems are one and all pantheistic, and savor of Pan-
systems are one and all pantheistic, and savor of Pan-
demonium, a house divided against itself.
269:3
From first to last the supposed coexistence of Mind
From first to last the supposed coexistence of Mind
and matter and the mingling of good and evil have re-
sulted from the philosophy of the serpent. Jesus' demon-
strations sift the chaff from the wheat, and unfold the
unity and the reality of good, the unreality, the nothing-
ness, of evil.
Divine metaphysics
269:9
Human philosophy has made God manlike. Christian
Human philosophy has made God manlike. Christian
Science makes man Godlike. The first is error; the latter
is truth. Metaphysics is above physics, and
matter does not enter into metaphysical prem-
ises or conclusions. The categories of metaphysics rest
on one basis, the divine Mind. Metaphysics resolves
things into thoughts, and exchanges the objects of sense
for the ideas of Soul.
269:17
These ideas are perfectly real and tangible to spiritual
These ideas are perfectly real and tangible to spiritual
consciousness, and they have this advantage over the ob-
jects and thoughts of material sense, – they are good and
eternal.
Biblical foundations
269:21
The testimony of the material senses is neither abso-
The testimony of the material senses is neither abso-
lute nor divine. I therefore plant myself unreservedly
on the teachings of Jesus, of his apostles, of
the prophets, and on the testimony of the
Science of Mind. Other foundations there are none.
All other systems – systems based wholly or partly on
knowledge gained through the material senses – are reeds
shaken by the wind, not houses built on the rock.
Rejected theories
269:29
The theories I combat are these: (1) that all is matter;
The theories I combat are these: (1) that all is matter;
(2) that matter originates in Mind, and is as
real as Mind, possessing intelligence and life.
The first theory, that matter is everything, is quite as