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In considering together this subject of
healing we have seen that what we thought to be miraculous happenings are in
fact the experience of the laws of God in operation. If this is so, then how do
we account for the evidence before our eyes that says we are material and
therefore subject to the laws of matter? Laws of God and laws of matter are
opposites, and this appears to present us with a dilemma. The way this is
resolved in Christian Science is called scientific translation.
Clearly our method needs to be scientific
for any resolution must be according to principles or laws. But what is
translation? One use of the word is in the area of language where meaning is
conveyed from one language to another. If I am speaking in English and you
understand only French, then what I say is incomprehensible to you. I need to
translate in order for you to understand me.
Mrs Eddy says, "The great difficulty is
to give the right impression, when translating material terms back into the
original spiritual tongue." She continues: "God's essential language is spoken
of in the last chapter of Mark's Gospel as the new tongue, the spiritual
meaning of which is attained through 'signs following"' (S&H 115:9,
117:10). The healing practice is the signs following and it is an important
part of Christian Science. Another use of the word is illustrated in the Bible
when Enoch was translated and walked with God - he did not experience the
transition called death. We shall find that both senses of the word are
essential in Christian Science. In an article called 'One Cause and Effect" Mrs
Eddy makes two statements that focus on these uses of the word: "Christian
Science translates Mind, God, to mortals,' and "Science, understood, translates
matter into Mind' (Mis 22:10, 25:12).
When a healing takes place it looks as
though unhealthy matter has been changed into healthy matter, or an unhappy or
discordant situation has become harmonious. Everyone seeks and naturally
expects these changed states because health and harmony are normal. Health
means sound or whole. This normal state is where everything is working in
balance whether it is in the body or in relationships, physically, socially or
politically. To bring about the change from discord to harmony, a balance or
equilibrium has to be rediscovered or re-established.
A term that describes the true state of
balance or health that we are seeking is co-incidence. To coincide is to
correspond exactly. What we seek is the coincidence of the human and the
divine. Two things are necessary for this coinciding to be experienced: first
we must understand something of the divine, which is God, and second we must
re-evaluate the human, which is usually equated with the mortal. Mortals appear
to have minds of their own, whereas God is the only Mind there is and this Mind
is immortal.
Before we turn to Science and Health to
find out more about scientific translation it is helpful to note where it comes
in the book. It is found on pages 115 and 116, in the sixth chapter, "Science,
Theology, Medicine." On these pages are two tables: 'Scientific Translation of
Immortal Mind" and "Scientific Translation of Mortal Mind." We have been led
and prepared through the previous five chapters to begin to question this
persona called me, a mortal with a will of its own. This will is so often in
conflict with the deep desire of the heart to be in accord with its divine
source. Science now shows us how to resolve this conflict by making plain our
starting point.
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