Heredity and Spirit, Soul
This week’s Lesson-Sermon, “Soul and Body,” cites the following from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy: “Spirit, Soul, is not confined in man, and is never in matter” (467:22-23).
An application of this idea can be found in the Sentinel article, “Heredity is not a law” by Carl J. Welz (May 23, 1964). Welz explains the following:
“The real man is God's image and likeness, the idea of Mind, or Principle. Man's qualities, therefore, are derived directly from Principle. They have no other source. Man is not the father of man. The creative Principle never enters man; so one man cannot reproduce another, nor can one individual transmit his qualities to another. All men are in reality God's spiritual offspring manifesting the qualities, the perfection, the health, the love, of the one perfect Father-Mother.
Mrs. Eddy says (ibid., p. 467): ‘This is a leading point in the Science of Soul, that Principle is not in its idea. Spirit, Soul, is not confined in man, and is never in matter.’
As we come to understand the truth that Principle, not matter, is primary and as we apply this truth to our every thought and act, we are able to heal disease and to overcome discords in human life. God is our Father, and we inherit from Him all that is real. Matter is not our origin, and we have the right and the duty to overthrow the belief that we are material.”
A concluding thought from the Hymnal:
You are the child of Spirit, sinless, pure
Yours is a perfect beauty, born of Soul
Complete with health, vitality, and grace.
For is not God, your Father, perfect, whole?
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 475:2)
