Page:Retrospection and Introspection.djvu/80

68 This mortal material concept was never a creator, although as a serpent it claimed to originate in the name of “the Lord,” or good, — original evil; second, in the name of human concept, it claimed to beget the offspring of evil, alias an evil offspring. However, the human concept never was, neither indeed can be, the father of man. Even the spiritual idea, or ideal man, is not a parent, though he reflects the infinity of good. The great difference between these opposites is, that the human material concept is unreal, and the divine concept or idea is spiritually real. One is false, while the other is true. One is temporal, but the other is eternal.

Our Master instructed his students to “call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.” (Matt, xxiii. 9.)

Science and Health, the textbook of Christian Science, treats of the human concept, and the transference of thought, as follows:—

“How can matter originate or transmit mind? We answer that it cannot. Darkness and doubt encompass thought, so long as it bases creation on materiality” (p. 551).

“In reality there is no mortal mind, and consequently no transference of mortal thought and will-power. Life and being are of God. In Christian Science, man can do no harm, for scientific thoughts are true thoughts, passing from God to man” (pp. 103, 104).

“Man is the offspring of Spirit. The beautiful, good, and pure constitute his ancestry. His origin is not, like