Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother,
(The Bible KJV – Malachi 2: 10)
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
Christian Science commands man to master the propensities, — to hold hatred in abeyance with kindness,to conquer lust with chastity, revenge with charity, and to overcome deceit with honesty. Choke these errors in their early stages, if you would not cherish an army of conspirators against health, happiness, and success.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy p405: 5)
Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good. God has made man capable of this, and nothing can vitiate the ability and power divinely bestowed on man.
God has endowed man with inalienable rights, among which are self-government, reason, and conscience. Man is properly self-governed only when he is guided rightly and governed by his Maker, divine Truth and Love.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy p106)
An interview with Beth Packer, of NSW Australia, who deals with aging-related issues in an unconventional way. She’s not focused on herself—at all. Beth keeps her focus squarely on God. Listen to her conversation with host David Brown and find out the healing effects of this approach.
Today, more than any other time, we have access to what feels like an infinite stream of information. YouTube videos are available to give us instructions on everything from tying our shoelaces to building a house. Opinions are proffered like facts. Influencers share their ‘wisdom’ on every aspect of life. Digital platforms with ideological agendas have the power to shape individual and public opinion. AI-generated content looks real, but isn’t, and misinformation can spread more easily than truth. Is there a reliable way to find truth, to discern which ideas have integrity and value and which don’t deserve our attention?
The statement: ‘The time for thinkers has come’ is from the opening page of the textbook of Christian Science, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. It was written 150 years ago by Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science. Even back then Eddy recognised the need for us to show wisdom, to be discerning, to sift fact from fiction and opinion.
Christian Science provides an invaluable guide in this respect. It teaches that the term God means the rules that make life work harmoniously. It teaches that God is Love. If ideas and actions come from a place of kindness, respect, unselfishness, forgiveness then they are based in Love and deserve our attention and support because these are the qualities that make life worthwhile.
Christian Science also teaches that God is Principle. If ideas and actions promote lawfulness, justice, fairness, discipline, steadfastness, trustworthiness, diligence, efficiency, stability in ourselves and society, then these are ideas with integrity.
When we recognise God as infinite Mind then ideas and actions that represent the qualities of divine Mind have value. Intelligence, wisdom, understanding, perception, alertness, insight, innovation, curiosity, inventiveness are the qualities that add value to ourselves and our communities.
God is also known as Spirit. Are new ideas directing us towards consumerism and materiality or are they lifting thought towards more enlightened thinking? Do they give a sense of peace and joy?
Knowing God in these ways not only makes God relevant to everyday life but also gives us the ability to be critical thinkers, to sift through the daily avalanche of information, to recognise which ideas have integrity and deserve our attention, and which do not. This is how we become the thinkers that the world has need of.
This article was originally published in the January 22, 2026 issue of the Canberra Weekly. It was written by a member of the Christian Science community in Canberra.
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