This article was contributed by a member of the Christian Science community in Canberra. It was published in the September 19, 2025 issue of the Canberra Weekly magazine.
Most of my friends are not believers in God. Some say straight out that there is no God. Others ask: If there is, is He or She relevant to today’s modern world. They tell me that they can be good people and live happy lives without believing in a mystical being.
If I didn’t have a Christian Science background, I would definitely be with them and not be a believer either. Christian Science shows me a concept of God that helps me make sense of the world. Christian Science is Bible based. While we understand that much of the Bible is allegorical and meant to be interpreted from a spiritual perspective and not taken literally, Jesus’ instructions we do take seriously. He gives us the rules that help us live a better, more productive life.
From Jesus we learn that God is Principle, or law maker. We also learn that God is Love (I John 4:8). Not that God is loving, but that God IS Love. Love has so many shades: kindness, affection, loyalty, generosity, forgiveness, empathy, cooperation. This list goes on. These are the qualities that make life seem worthwhile and that bring peace and harmony to any situation. You will notice that none of these qualities has a material form or is restricted to a particular place – they can be anywhere and everywhere at once. It is said that it is Love that makes the world go around. I don’t think that a world completely devoid of Love could exist! It is essential to existence.
The opposite to Love is hate – cruelty, selfishness, retaliation, greed, stubbornness. These are the qualities that tear families and societies apart. They bring no joy. The world, right now, is in great need of more of the love qualities and less of the hate.
If God is Love then we know something of the nature of God. God is not a material being; God can be everywhere at once; God is essential to life. Knowing God as Love allows me to see God everywhere – in every act of kindness or generosity, in every smile.
Knowing that God is both Love and Principle, or law maker, gives me trust that Love will always be victorious. For me, putting God first, means putting Love first and this is one way I can bring peace to each experience.
Christian Science Canberra 