"The only incentive of a mistaken sense . . . ."

"The only incentive of a mistaken sense is malicious animal magnetism,--the name of all evil,--and this must be understood." (My 357: 8-10) Incentive: "That which kindles or inflames; . . . That which moves the mind or operates on the passions; that which incites or has a tendency to incite to determination or action; that which prompts to good or ill; motive; spur." (SRD)

I apologize to those of you who have grown weary of the subject discussed, however briefly, in the past few entries, but I am more convinced than ever that Christian Scientists ignore it at their peril. However, one's weariness with the topic could be an indication of the secret and invisible influence of this malicious opiate. If you are a loyal, pure, sincere, and diligent student of Christian Science who is unreservedly loyal to Christ Jesus, Mary Baker Eddy, and the Church Manual this malignant evil wants you out of the way, as in, not to put too blunt a point on it, dead, or at least mentally dead. If one is not most watchful and wise he could very well find himself serving unconsciously an error which he would not dream of serving consciously. Color me barmy if you wish, but post a double watch just in case.

There is a sentence relevant to this ongoing monologue, with feedback of course, in Miscellany which is so short--and pungent--that it can easily be overlooked in a distracted blink of an eye. "That error is most forcible which is least distinct to conscience." (My 197: 2-4) Exerpts from the Student's Reference Dictionary (SRD) definitions of two words in that sentence show something of the depth and importance of that simple statement. Forcible: "Powerful; strong; mighty. Violent. Efficacious; active. . . . acting with force; impressive." Conscience: "Internal or self-knowledge, or judgment of right and wrong; or the faculty, power, or principle within us, which decides on the lawfulness or unlawfulness of our own actions and affections, and instantly approves or condemns them. . . . Conscience is called by some writers, the 'moral sense' . . . ." As I write this I have not had time to check if any commenters to the previous, and doubtless thoroughly intriguing, entry found my trifle there thought provoking. It has been said that every tub must stand on its own bottom, but if the corrosive effects of stealthy, insinuating aggressive mental suggestion has eaten it out one's present condition could be far dicier than he supposes.

Note: Have read comments to the previous entry. I appreciate the interest in the poemlet, but I think I overstated the clue's running through it. The little verse is really a stalking-horse of sorts for four carefully placed bread crumbs. Though as I said before, I may be in the minority feeling they lead to a credible threat, but don't be too quick to say it isn't.
A friend (Southwest) gave a pretty good summary of the source of this blog's title, which really goes back to the New Testament, of course. I would say the title has relevance individuals as well as to the movement as a whole.