Series 1 - Lesson 5 - Annotation 2
Why does evil appear in the world?
2. Man is created in the image of God, and in order to be complete he is to make of himself the likeness of God. Specifications for making this likeness are given him through close companionship with Jehovah God, the law and order of his being. Designated as the "Christ Mind," the original principles of his Creator are within his soul as latent substance that contains all the ideas of God, Absolute Good. Man's business is to listen to Jehovah God's inspiration, learn the value, the proper co-ordination, and the right use of divine ideas and to make his body and his world accordingly.
Manifest man is not always conscious of the power of thought, Jehovah God as I AM, and does not understand its use. His attention is largely absorbed in appearances, in effects. Not understanding that his thoughts produce according to their character and experiencing results that are sometimes painful and sometimes pleasurable, he has concluded that there are two powers outside of himself and that these powers work either to increase or decrease his well-being. Pleasurable sensation he calls "good" and painful sensation he calls "evil." The wrong use of his freedom of thought is his undoing, as he becomes absorbed in effects, looks upon them as causes, and so increases evil in his life.
Failure to know that "the kingdom of God is within" -- Luke 17: 21, him; failure to understand that "as he (man) thinketh in his heart, so is he" -- Prov. 23:7 (A.V.); failure to live up to the command "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" -- Exod. 20:3; and finally the ignorant use of ideas in wrong relation has produced all the seeming evil in the world.
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Preceding Entry: Why does man ever seek to exercise dominion?
Following Entry: What is the subconscious phase of mind?
