Moral Idiocy and its Manifestations

Moral idiocy is a term we seldom hear of in the study of Christian Science, and yet it is a term which we should be most familiar with because it does more harm than most forms of animal magnetism. This form of malicious animal magnetism puts individuals to sleep when they should be most awake. It lowers a veil between them and the problem that confronts them. It leads one to believe all is pacific because they do not comprehend or acknowledge the problem. It is only error attempting to close the eyes of Christian Scientists to the workings of error in their midst.

When Mrs. Eddy received a present from a student that consisted of three monkeys – speak, hear, and see no evil – she immediately remarked that this was not Christian Science. We recognize error and handle it before it handles us. This is as true today as it was then. World disturbances and governmental activity cannot be brushed aside with the statement, “God will take care of it.” We hear this statement too often without the demonstration. The one who usually speaks it is the one who is not demonstrating the goodness of God in all spheres of activity. These individuals are on their elevated platforms and see nothing because the clouds are in front of their eyes. They think this is a wonderful view. All problems must be worked out scientifically through Christ. We never close our eyes, ears, nor do we cease to speak against the evils which attempt to harm mankind. We see and hear the claims of evil and destroy them for what they are. We speak against that which is wrong with the voice of Truth. We do not remain mute when a word can dispel evil.

On page 103 of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, she says, “The malicious form of hypnotism ultimates in moral idiocy.” Mankind in general and Christian Scientists in particular are being hypnotized into believing that there are no problems in our land. They dismiss it with a statement again not backed up with demonstration such as, “If there is, God will take care of it.” Many Christian Scientists are of the opinion that Christian Science is here to supply their material wants and that God will handle all their problems without work on their part. This form of evil destroys the very foundations of Christian Science. The social, political, economic, and religious problems of this age must be seen by us and destroyed through a correct application of the Science of Christianity. The correct sense of activity must be brought forth.

A malicious form of hypnotism is that which is usually directed by someone at another. Therefore, it must be seen that Christian Scientists are being maliciously attacked or handled, because they will not recognize the errors which confront this age. They will not become warriors, instead they sleep in their dream world watching television from their favorite chair. They seem to think Christian Science is here to supply pleasures for material sense. These individuals cry, “Peace, peace; when there is no peace.” (Jeremiah 6:14) The maliciousness of this form of animal magnetism is quite evident because it is keeping the very elect fooled. Its attempt is to destroy the camp of the Father before it even goes to battle. On page 210 of Miscellany, Mrs. Eddy says: “Certain individuals entertain the notion that Christian Science Mind-healing should be two-sided, and only denounce error in general, –saying nothing, in particular, of error that is damning men. They are sticklers for a false, convenient peace, straining at gnats and swallowing camels. The unseen wrong to individuals and society they are too cowardly, too ignorant, or too wicked to uncover, and excuse themselves by denying that this evil exists. This mistaken way, of hiding sin in order to maintain harmony, has licensed evil, allowing it first to smoulder, and then break out in devouring flames. All that error asks is to be let alone; even as in Jesus’ time the unclean spirits cried out, ‘Let us alone; what have we to do with thee?’”

The hope of hypnotic tricksters is to have as few warriors on the field of battle as possible, then they can pick off the warriors one by one. Moral idiocy is a form of error which is most distressing if one looks at the material side of the picture and sees its accomplishments. Christian Scientists are certainly asleep to the errors that confront this age and of the methods of those who would destroy religion and country.

When one reaches the state of thought where he thinks he knows more than the rest of mankind because he is a Christian Scientist, and thinks he is protected because of his religion and therefore need not do protective work, then stay away from him. That person is a dangerous individual to be near; do not keep company with him. He is blinded by his own false sense of morality. He has lost all rationality and is usually very hard to reason with. When Christianity, manifest as wisdom, does not go hand in hand with morality there is a great problem. Morality is a human quality, whereas, wisdom is a divine manifestation needed to bring activity to a previously lethargic thought. So, a moral idiot is one who thinks everything is all right when it is not. He will not look at the errors which confront this age. He feels justified in his state of idiocy.

On page 112 of Miscellaneous Writings, Mrs. Eddy says, “The mental stages of crime, which seem to belong to the latter days, are strictly classified in metaphysics as some of the many features and forms of what is properly denominated, in extreme cases, moral idiocy.” It is true that extreme cases of this hypnotic evil manifest themselves in the case Mrs. Eddy gives about President Garfield’s assassin, but the states of like thought though not so severe, and which we are talking about, are moral idiocy also. There is too much moral knowing in the Christian Science movement and not enough Christian knowing. They are different because Christian knowing is permeated with love and moral knowing with human goodness. Christian knowing recognizes the troubles that beset humanity and sets out to heal them and moral knowing only sees the lack of a TV set, a car, etc. It cares nothing about mankind. One is human and the other is divine. This is also an indication that there is need of more Christliness in the Christian Science movement instead of the letter. It appears that many Christian Scientists are forgetting their fellow man in the attempt to demonstrate a nice home, a swimming pool, or a car for themselves. Quite a selfish attitude when we begin to see what it is all about. Mrs. Eddy started healing all mankind before she ever became wealthy, and this must be our way. As Christian Scientists we know that the basis of Christian Science is Love, and nothing is more basic to Love than the act of giving, or the recognition of world problems and the handling of them. Again Mrs. Eddy has this to say on page 113 of Miscellaneous Writings: “Thank God! this evil can be resisted by true Christianity. Divine Love is our hope, strength, and shield. We have nothing to fear when Love is at the helm of thought, but everything to enjoy on earth and in heaven.” Love is requisite for a healing of the world’s ills, we do not love our neighbor until this is done.

The only way to destroy the evils of this age is to love our fellow man more and take up much more of the cross in our “daily walk and conversation.” If we continue to think of Christian Science as a supplier of our human wants instead of a demonstration Godward, we will not have Christian Science much longer. He who seeks Christian Science for material gain loses the Spirit. We have the material manifestations of our demonstrations because anything else would be an abomination against God. We must have wealth from a proper standpoint of demonstration and not from the position of human want. We do not heal anything because it is painful to mortal sense, but rather, because it is an abomination against God’s perfection.

When we see the world’s problems as our problems, we will then demonstrate the universality of Christian Science, and not before. Every error that presents itself to our thinking must be healed. Just because it is far away and has no immediate danger to us, is not a valid reason for not handling the situation. Moral idiocy must be handled or Mrs. Eddy’s prophecy for Christian Science in this century will never be realized. Mrs. Eddy says on page 249 of Miscellany: “Hate is a moral idiocy let loose for one’s own destruction. Unless withstood, the heat of hate burns the wheat, spares the tares, and sends forth a mental miasma fatal to health, happiness, and the morals of mankind, — and all this only to satiate its loathing of love and its revenge on the patience, silence, and lives of saints.” We handle moral idiocy (hatred) when we handle the false idea of man as a mortal. The man that uses Christian Science for his material pleasure, without helping mankind with their problems, is a hater of men and God. There is no place for such a man in heaven. This hatred is a moral hatred and must be handled. It is latent, and is in the dark corners of thought and must be rooted out. We must not let it fool the elect and destroy the harvest time.

When we learn and demonstrate the universal sense of Love, we will not be able to see a problem and leave it uncorrected. The individual or individuals involved need your love to heal the situation. God demands perfection. A love of God and man heals moral idiocy. A lack of love leaves the world’s problems unsolved, lets humanity suffer, and denies God’s entrance into the hearts of men.