No Antagonism Between Mind and Matter; Christian Science
By R.
THE great foundation of Christian Science may be put in three words: “All is mind.” All that Christian Scientists believe is embodied in this statement; all that they deny is excluded by it. On the expression, “All is mind,” Christian Science must stand or fall. Assuming that all is mind, they exclude matter, and deny its existence. Having thus disposed of matter and things material, they are bound to give some sort of explanation of material phenomena, and this they do by declaring that it is all a myth and an illusion of mortal mind. The references that follow are from Mrs. Eddy’s book, “Science and Health,” paragraphs seven and eight of the chapter “Science of Being.” In paragraph seven she states that either everything is matter or that everything is mind, and asks, “Which one is it? Matter and Mind are antagonistic, and both have not place and power.” The statement that matter and mind, per se, are antagonistic is not correct; it is not true. Neither the Scriptures nor nature teaches such a thing. But it is true that matter does not have power, it is not an originator of force. Matter is inert. But matter is always entirely responsive to power. And in this response of matter to power or mind lies the agreement and harmony between the two. By acting obediently under the impulse of invisible power and invisible thought, the invisible is made manifest through the conduct of the visible. “For the invisible things of God, His divine power and character, from the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made.” Rom. 1:20 (literal rendering). Creation brought the invisible to light; the visible, the things that are made, manifests the invisible, the things of God. Matter is obedient to the word and thought of God; that is, it is obedient to the mind of God. “Harken unto Me, O Jacob and Israel, My called; I am He; I am the first, I also am the last. Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and My right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.” Isa. 48:12, 13. This word shows how completely obedient matter is when once God speaks; matter obeys the mind and word of God. “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.” “For He spake, and it was done: He commanded, and it stood fast.” Ps. 33:6, 9. If this does not present a picture of perfect obedience to God on the part of the material world, it presents nothing. Here is another view of a similar work: “The waters stood above the mountains. At Thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of Thy thunder they hastened away (the mountains rose, the valleys sank down) unto the place which Thou hadst founded for them. Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.” Ps. 104: 6-9, A.R.V. Against these plain statements of the word of God, we have Mrs. Eddy’s statement that “matter and mind are opposites. One is contrary to the other in its very nature and essence.” We beg leave to say on the authority of the scriptures given above and on the authority of many others of the same import which might be given, that mind and matter are not opposites; matter always obeys mind, some mind, for without mind, it is inert, impassive; when the Master Mind speaks, it responds. There is no antagonism between mind and matter, because matter is the servant of mind. It is vibrant with power. The whole material creation is marvelously elastic, and moves with every impulse of force. A dozen electric currents may be sent over the same telegraph wire without confusing them or interfering with the individuality of any one of them. Rigid glass will rise to meet the touch of your blood-warmed finger. But some one will here interpose the query, “Then why does not man, a material being, obey Him?” The query is a good one, and the answer should be given. Whenever God speaks to matter, pure matter, it always obeys Him. In proof of this we have but to recall the texts already given, and to further refer to the work of Christ. The material world always obeyed the word of Christ, whether it were wave or storm, whether water or bread, whether bodies weak with disease or still with death. Matter, as matter, is not in conflict with spirit; no example of such conflict can be given. Where is the conflict? Where is the disobedience? It lies in the conflict of human mind against the divine mind. The conflict is not of matter against mind, but of one mind, the perverted mind, the carnal mind, in opposing the divine mind. Not the slightest evidence from reason or revelation or the world of fact can show any opposition between mind and pure matter. The matter of my body in obeying my mind, may not obey the divine mind, but this is because the divine mind does not speak directly to the matter of my body; it speaks to my mind, and bids me to order the matter of my body in conformity with the divine mind. If I refuse, it is not matter opposing the divine mind; it is my mind opposing the divine mind. The conflict is between the two forms of mind; not matter against mind. “The carnal mind is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” The divine mind does not speak to the matter of my body as it spake at Creation, or as it spake to the Red Sea and caused it to obey. The divine mind has placed the matter of my body into subjection to my mind, and the matter of my body obeys me; therefore, I, my mind, must bear the responsibility for failure to obey in having ordered so perversely. But this subjection is only for a time; the material world has been thus subjected, but it is in hope that it shall some day be delivered from this bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. “For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.” Rom. 8: 20, 21. This explains fully the warfare that is going on in the world; it is a warfare of wills, of minds, not of matter and mind. The material body which the divine mind has subjected to my mind, has been made obedient to my mind, and I find that it obeys me completely; and in its subjection and obedience I find myself able to subject it even to the bondage of corruption; but even so, matter is not disobeying the mind of God, for God ordained that it should obey my mind, and it obeys my mind, for this is the only way in which I can have an existence; but if now I cause it to obey evil behests, my mind is the seat of the rebellion, and it is my mind that God holds responsible. How remarkable it is that a person can arise in these days, and by making statements devoid of reason or revelation, yet because the teaching is pleasing, draw away thousands of believers after them. God in the great day of accounts (I know that Christian Science has done away with the Judgment Day, but it awaits nevertheless,—“It is appointed unto all men once to die,9and after this the judgment.” Heb. 9: 27) will say, You have taken the word of poor, fallible mortal for the plain word I had given you. What will you say, how will you excuse yourself for choosing the mere statements of a fallible mortal for the incontestible word of God?