Big-bang theories

Did the universe, including life on earth, begin with a big bang, as many physical scientists believe? And is our earth, including us, in danger of being terminated by another big bang, as many nuclear arms control proponents fear? The two theories share the common premise that life began, and can be extinguished (or radically atrophied), by large-scale material action - a detonation.

All kinds of material evidence can be assembled in support of these beliefs and fears, but spiritual evidence leads us to a different conclusion. Spiritual evidence - that which derives from an understanding of God's nature - identifies God as inexhaustible Life, and man as His inextinguishable image, as the Scriptures teach. Mankind seems to be approaching one of those watershed moments in history when it must choose whether to accept the arguments of materiality or learn how to worship God, Spirit, ''in spirit and in truth.'' n1

n1 John 4:24.

However it is assembled, material evidence - blind to spiritual law - inevitably leads to the conclusion that God is non-existent or ineffective; and that man must turn to materiality in order to save himself from - materiality! The threat of wide-scale death and destruction implicit in nuclear arms cannot lightly be dismissed. Yet isn't it simply one more escalation of the continuing threat to human life and happiness posed by materialism, by the universal conviction that matter is the source and substance of existence?

Spiritual law, appealed to understandingly, is the only power that can set aside material evidence and bring to light the true source of intelligence and life. Moses' words still apply: ''I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: that thou mayest love the Lord thy God . . . : for he is thy life, and the length of thy days.'' n2

n2 Deuternomy 30:19, 20.

The Bible gives many accounts of spiritual law setting aside the material evidence of death: Christ Jesus' raising of Lazarus, of the widow's son, of Jairus's daughter. In more recent times (November 1886) a man, shot in the chest near the heart, and pronounced beyond hope of recovery by four physicians, was restored to normal health within three days by the action of spiritual law. n3 These restorations, and above all Jesus' own resurrection, tell us that God is omnipotent. And if untimely deaths can be overcome by a Christlike understanding of God's ever-present spiritual power, then obedience to the demands of spiritual law can also set aside the arguments of materialism that threaten the world with death.

n3 See A Century of Christian Science Healing (Boston: The Christian Science Publishing Society, 1966), pp. 25-28.

What are the materialistic arguments that would prevent accord on the control of nuclear weapons? Aren't they essentially that each nation is being forced to arm by a power believed to be greater than God, good - by fear, and mistrust of its neighbors? And what are the demands of spiritual law that, obeyed, can cut through the swirling mists of these arguments? In answer to the question ''What are the demands of the Science of Soul?'' Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes: ''The first demand of this Science is, 'Thou shalt have no other gods before me.' This me is Spirit. Therefore the command means this: Thou shalt have no intelligence, no life, no substance, no truth, no love, but that which is spiritual. The second is like unto it, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.' '' n4

n4 Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 467.

The reasoning that says we or our neighbors are consumed with a desire to overwhelm each other, or that we can gain from each other's loss, is not intelligence but blindness; not blessing but cursing; not life for us and our children but death. The spiritual truth is that there is only one source of intelligence, and that source is God, Spirit. As humanity learns to turn only to that source, and to realize that man is its spiritual, loving expression, the dark shadows of human fear will be progressively dissolved by the light that is Truth, God Himself, and the basis for accord will appear. DAILY BIBLE VERSE Who shall not fear thee. O Lord, and glory thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee. Revelation 15:4