In this section, Mary Baker Eddy writes about calming a child’s fear about imaginary ghosts. It’s an analogy, she could have meant any material fear but ghosts are particularly frightening to little children so the analogy is that much more poignant. She writes:
In short, children should be told not to believe in ghosts, because there are no such things. If belief in their reality is destroyed, terror of ghosts will depart and health be restored. The objects of alarm will then vanish into nothingness, no longer seeming worthy of fear or honor.
People who read this have an interesting reaction: I’ve experienced a ghost myself – how can you tell me they aren’t real? This book is about Christian Science and spiritual reality, not about ghosts. If you want to believe in ghosts because you have experienced them – good for you. But how is that different from believing in sickness, or sin? It’s not.
Go back to the analogy and replace the word ghost with anything you are afraid of, in pain from, etc. The paragraph is still truthful. The idea is the same. One material sensation is just as unreal as the next.
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