Christian Science Perspective audio edition

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Are we helpless in the face of cruelty, insults, and threats?

No. Christian Science, founded by Mary Baker Eddy during a tumultuous time in the nineteenth century in the United States, shows that prayer can really change our experience. The teachings of Christian Science provide a scientific method for praying about – and seeing through – the bullies in our lives, whether they appear as overbearing personalities, difficult work environments, financial stress, health problems, or anything else. When prayer lifts thought to the understanding of God’s gift – divine Love’s continuous presence and power – the fulfillment of this gift naturally appears in our experience.

Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 10:7). In “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” Mrs. Eddy defines “Kingdom of Heaven” as “the reign of harmony in divine Science; the realm of unerring, eternal, and omnipotent Mind; the atmosphere of Spirit, where Soul is supreme” (p. 590). This kingdom is the kingdom of God, which Jesus also said is within us (see Luke 17:21). So, how can this kingdom be experienced as the reign of harmony in our lives?

It is commonly believed that human beings have their own inward thinking and an outwardly good or bad experience. But the Bible implies that God, Spirit, is All-in-all. There is therefore no separation between Mind, God, and the divine Mind’s idea, man. Our experience is the outgrowth of our inward communion with God, which reveals the good qualities that we inherently express as ideas of God.

Jesus moved through the tyranny of ancient Rome and the era’s ritualistic religious practices ever conscious of his oneness with God – which enabled him to uplift lives. Healing occurred right where political, religious, and physical turmoil tried to stymie humanity’s progress. Recognition of man’s true, eternal nature as spiritual and unfallen was the power behind Jesus’ healing work, as Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health: “Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God’s own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick. Thus Jesus taught that the kingdom of God is intact, universal, and that man is pure and holy” (pp. 476-477).

This spiritual understanding of the kingdom of God within has helped me experience healing and positive change when faced with difficult people and work situations. I once worked in a large organization with a supervisor who often demeaned and bullied subordinates, including me. Months of prayer resulted in a clear directive to identify him in my thought as a child of God instead of a bully.

I first recognized his expression of intelligence, a quality of divine Mind. Then, I remembered hearing about his persistence in overcoming obstacles earlier in his life. So every time a bullying incident occurred, I held more firmly to his reflection of spiritual intelligence and perseverance. I also continued to do my best work and sincerely expected that the divine Mind would reveal to me the right response and lead me to appropriate action.

One evening, this supervisor and I were discussing a provision in a contract that confused me, and I was writing down his instructions. With disgust in his voice, he said, “I hate it when you write down everything I say; it makes me feel like Chairman Mao.” Without my thinking about it, and without guile or sarcasm, these words came out of my mouth: “Don’t worry. When you leave the room, I cross out almost everything you said.” Instantly, I thought, “I can’t believe those were my words!”

He was silent for a second and then burst out laughing. It was clear that he felt the lightheartedness and even the love in my comment­ – he didn’t want to be a bully! And never again did he treat me with anything but kindness, respect, and appreciation. We worked together compatibly on many projects, and when I moved to another city, he called some of his many contacts there to recommend me to other employers.

What happened? My experience had changed in an instant. Mind’s direction had led me to precisely the humor and grace – and even the exact words – that broke tyranny’s hold. My inward prayer, acknowledging and yielding to the reality of God’s government and harmony, transformed my outward experience. There really is only one kingdom, which is wholly spiritual, and within which there are no bullies to try to control us.

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Whether bullies appear as difficult work associates, health challenges, erratic political figures, economic turmoil, or intractable wars, we can steadfastly affirm that we and others have the kingdom of heaven already within us. We can accept that Mind has the power to bring our experience into conformity with this divine reality. We can insist, and prove step by step, that “the realm of unerring, eternal, and omnipotent Mind,” the kingdom of God, forever reigns.

Adapted from an article published in the April 6, 2026, issue of the Christian Science Sentinel.

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