For a more in-depth exploration of this subject, read Kari's article "Unraveling the riddle of evil" on JSH-online.com.

Thank you Kari!

You spoke with such compassion and strength, a wonderful message and one to hold onto.

In Hy 382 Emily Seal reminds us "Child of the perfect One . . . . . . . Thou art not error's thrall" and that is the case for everyone.

We are beholden, as the ones who can see this, to see every person we encounter, whether on the news or in our personal lives as, "Truth's honest child"

Of course, as well as recognising this in everyone else, we have to see it in ourselves. "aye there's the rub" Shakespeare

beannachd agus tamh

Shelagh

Thanks a lot, dear Kari! Just what I need for my church work - to deny evel of any kind vehemently and pray to know that God is only good (as MBE says in S+H) and consequently we can do and express only good and bless all.

Thank you so much for your message, so helpful for me. I am grateful!

"Have one God and you will have no devil." (Miscellany, p. 251, by Mary Baker Eddy)
To me this is a real shortcut answer. Another precondition is described in the same paragraph: "Adhere to the teachings of the Bible, Science and Health, and our Manual, and you will obey the law and gospel."

Good Morning Kari,

Thank you for this Lift. Nate I shall read Kari's article a bit later today so Thanks for that as well.

Yesterday evening there was a Tropical Storm Warning for Barbados and some other islands in the Easter Caribbean. I am grateful that people in Barbados do take the necessary steps to be prepared and it appears that one of those steps is prayer

As I was leaving work the storm strengthened and it was going to pass rather near Barbados last night. As I drove home I held firmly to God's Love. I replaced thoughts of "Hurricane Season" with thoughts of "God's Season" - all day, all week, all month, all year. Coming home, I just felt God's Love every step of the way. I knew evil had and has no power. I had to keep this firmly in view.

A very short poem also came to thought, one that I put together for those in this Forum whose car was stolen. The poem came to thought last Sunday as it rained much of the day. In the evening,there was a dark on the horizon, but behind the cloud was the golden sun with streams of brilliance; softening the sky with hues of Presence; here is the poem:-

Before the storm
I felt much fear
During the storm
I discovered strength
After the storm
I saw the Light....
It has always been there.

The weather system passed us with no ill effects. We are keeping the rest of the Caribbean in prayer. This morning, the birds are singing louder & clearer than ever before. The Light was always there.

Thanks!

Thank you for these thoughts that we can work with this weekend.

Thank you Kari for a much needed lift this morning. It is a wonderful reminder of how to follow the Christ example. I am very grateful for this expression of true Christly dominion. Much love and gratitude.

Thank you . I read the Riddle of Evil when it came out, in the March 12, 2012 Sentinel, but since I give my Sentinels and other Christian Science Literature to the home for memory impaired folks on a regular basis, I got it on JSH-Online this morning( before doing any other of my regular chores) and reprinted it for myself at home. Thank you for explaining this.
"Do only good" is always the answer to a frustrating question, sometimes.

Thank you! Exact.....Concise.......Perfect!

Hi

I realized I made an error in the poem so I have it written again below. I also have a photo that goes with the poem and one day I will share it with you all via a link.

Before the storm
I felt much fear
During the storm
I discovered Strength
After the storm
I saw The Light....
It had always been there.

What a beautiful, strong lift! Thank you Kari! And Thank you Helga, #5, I will look that citation up! And Troy, #6, I love the poem and the thought of 'God's Season'! So grateful to be part of this thinking, sharing and
loving community.

Thanks, Kari, for “Unraveling evil…Christ Jesus…proved…that Good/God alone is real…conquer evil not submit to it…recognize evil is neither made by nor sanctioned by God…” Christian Science proves the absolute power the simple Truth has over complicated evil suggestions. Is the belief in sin, sickness, or death good? No? Then it’s not of God. Evil has no authority over me or mine or anyone. Good/God is the only “powers that be.” Whatever the evil suggestion that’s trying to take power over us, it doesn’t have a chance when we use Good to overcome it. “…the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” (II Cor 10:4) And evil seems to build “strongholds.” I tell myself not to be fooled. I don’t have to “sign the permit” for evil to build anything in my experience. Also, I’ve begun asking more frequently, “What would Jesus do (WWJD)?” He went straight to Our Father in prayer. He overcame the belief in and healed what appeared as sin, sickness, and death for which Jesus showed “zero tolerance.” Wow! "Unravel evil" down to its nothingness. What would life on earth be like if we freed ourselves from the belief in sin, sickness, and death? I’d like to find out. How? Jesus said, “…continue in my word…And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8).

What a beautiful message, Kari! Thank you. I love the passage from Galatians, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." To me, this is the blueprint for living and walking with God, and is a law of perfect dominion over any supposition of inharmony.

Thanks for your mail,
be bless,
Gideon

Thank you. Just what I needed today. Thanks. John

I say YES

What wonderful news, -- Good News -- sent to our world today. And in Greek and Italian, too!
God, Good, has always been and is forever supreme. Joy to the world is an established fact.
Thanks to Mari and all who are delivering God's Word.

Thanks Kari,
Very powerful and spot on lift...! Thanks to all the "Lifters" for their commentts. The Spiritual power that is ours as the reflection of God, is limitless..."to the pulling down of strongholds". There is now power in evil, other that the power WE give it. God has giivins US the power OVER evil, so, don't give away that power...!

Nate thanks for the referral to JSH-online.com, but unfortunately "Unraveling the riddle of evil" was not available unless your are a subscriber. What a disappointment.

This lift does contain much good to contemplate as do many of the comments. Thanks Troy #6 for sharing your poem and I especially liked the thought that the light had always been there. Just as the sun is always shining even if not visible to the human eye. Neither is evil real even if it appears to the human eye. And nela #13 for sharing your thoughts. What a blessing it is to be part of this family of lifters. Thanks to all!

6 & #11 - Troy from Barbados, thank you so much for your beautiful testimony and poem

( both versions :-) You are a wonderful role model for applying God's laws to the human condition, as we're taught in Christian Science. Your postings always inspire me. Thanks again.

Thank you for your morning Lift . To deny evil and wrong doings as a power only leaves us the Truth and a way of living heaven on earth . . . .Joy and love be your day.

Yes, yes, yes. Thank you.

Bello mensaje Kari, la Ciencia Cristiana nos enseña... Sí que el mal no existe, siento que es así, sin ninguna duda, pero no basta con saberlo es necesario contrarestarlo, veamos un poco a este mundo en conflicto y como va cediendo a las exigencias de acciones totalmente ajenas a la moral y al sentir cristiano, violando los mandamientos divinos, y me pregunto: ¿Qué estamos haciendo para contrarestarlo? la convicción natural de todos los que amamos a Dios no parece ser suficiente si nos descansarnos en que >Dios no lo conoce sin tomar cartas en el asunto no parece lógico, porque el mal no descansa y a lo que está sucediendo en el mundo me remito, también Eddy nos dice que lo que quiere el mal es que lo dejen trabajar tranquilo y en la inercia del mundo ha encontrado su apoyo y sosten, miremos lo que nos dice la Biblia de los hechos historícos que allí se relatan y aún las palabras de Cristo nos advierten de estos días tan complejos para el mundo, y Sí el arma poderosa es el Amor divino y la tenemos pero se hace necesario tomar la espada de doble filo, entiendo, el Amor que derrota al mal en su doble accionar, ama y combate por lo tanto es necesario combatir la ilusión humana tomando las arras del espíritu que es nuestra espada victoriosa.

Muchas gracias Kari, que bueno es poder compartir el anhelo de derrotar al mal, con Una sola arma el Amor.

Mrs. Eddy uses a great expression when making some point about the uselessness of celebrating birthdays. “Let us have no more of echoing dreams.” – My 236:1 How’s that for unraveling evil?

OK I confess. Staying up past midnight watching the Olympics has played havoc with morning time for daily lifts. Much gratitude for those of you carrying the Lift Torch! Thank you.

Thank you for this lift. It was a perfect answer to a headline of "Where was God in Aurara", that occured shortly after the shootings. Also thank you #6 Troy. Living in Texas, I know what it means to see God's protection during a hurricane and I loved the thought of "God's Season". Since God is all, that is the only season there can be: One, Continuous season of Good! :0)

Our world so needs this thought today. It is a wonderful antidote to discouragement. Thanks!

Thank you for a much needed message.

Thank you, Kari! And Good on Ya for tackling "the problem of evil" on this Daily Lift! It seems to me then that it is OUR responsibility to acknowledge God as Good Alone! We tackle or "unravel" evil in our OWN consciousness, right? Where else could it possible pretend to exist? As it says in our C.S. Bible Lesson this week, "......man is free "to enter into the holiest," - the realm of God." Good Alone is Real! Let's jump into it! Happy Weekend to All!

Thank you Kalliroi for a truly wonderful uplift today!

Thanks Kari for getting our day off on the right foot...we can remember and "watch" all day to see the nothingness of evil in all it's subtle lies.

Thank you.

Thank you Kari and all for sharing uplifing messages from the only true and perfect source!

Thank you Kari. It's surprising, isn't it, that we can read: "There is no disease" as something we just realized, so that an exclamation point carries the meaning "Hey! There really is no disease! Amazing! I get it!" The enlightenment will surely come without fail, and right at the moment you most need it. Thanks to all those who contribute, and add their blessings
With many thanks to you Nate and the crew; the BoL and lecturers; and the Daily Lifters.

Super! This is perfect for my day today. Thanks Kari.

Well I finally looked into the details, and subscribed to JSH-online. It works out to half the cost of what I pay to park my car downtown. Thank you Kari, your article alone was worth the price for the month. Apathy is an evil that can be put away. The hidden belief in fatalism and inevitability can be uncovered and put away. Evil can be unravelled - "reduced to its native nothingness" (MBE).

How great to have this message in three languages! Thank you!

What a loving, timely, relevant powerful lift. Thank you Kari for getting into this topic in such a clear and concise way. AND Thanks Nate, as others have said, for the title of Kari's full article on JSH. If someone doesn't have the subscription, they might try going to their local Christian Science Reading Room which probably subscribes and listen to it there. Thanks everyone for your comments.

Thank you Kari for that phenomenal lift. Seeking Truth's honest child.....as one of our children has cut off communication to us. We are heartbroken.

Thank you for sharing Kari! Another strong and powerful message from Love.
Ken--Dover, NH

Thank you Kari! This is an important point in seeing the power of God, good only! So grateful you've brought this to thought today! After I listened, I went to Mary Baker Eddy's writings to Miscellaneous Writings page 346 where I found a small, helpful article on this subject. Called the "Origin of Evil" she points out the importance of getting rid of this wrong concept, of evil as a reality, and embracing good alone! So grateful for your wonderful thought prompter today, it certainly does "Lift" me out of error's illusion today!

Thanks, Kari, for a crystal clear healing message! Someone once asked me that same earth-shaking question, where did evil come from? Quietly reaching to God for an answer, I blurted out "It never came! In the infinite Allness of God's goodness, there's no room for it." That made us both laugh with joy and broke the mesmeric suggestion claiming that evil could ever have a source, cause, law, power or presence. Truly He puts the words in our mouths and the ability to be blessed and bless. Heartfelt thanks to you and all.

Thank you for this very clear and STRONG explanation of how we can conquer all the many "faces" of evil. What a reminder of the demand our first commandment makes on us -"Thou shalt have no other god's before me."

Dear Kari : Je vous remercie énormément pour ce merveilleux message et aussi pour votre parfaite élocution. Vous parlez assez lentement et très distinctement, votre accent est très voisin de celui enseigné dans nos écoles, ce qui fait qu'aujourd'hui, j'ai compris l'intégralité de votre lift ! Quel bonheur vous nous apportez en nous rappelant l'inexistence du mal ! Aucune autre religion ne croit à cette Vérité, elles sont ancrées dans la matière et la croyance au bien ET AU MAL, et ainsi condamnent leurs adeptes à souffrir, à ne jamais trouver le Royaume de Dieu ni Dieu Lui-même ! Leur vision de Jésus fait de Lui un menteur en ce sens que jamais ils ne peuvent "faire les oeuvres que Je (CHRIST) fais" puisqu'ils ne savent pas COMMENT les faire ! Alors pourquoi a-t-il dit que nous le pouvons et que nous avons "la domination sur la terre ou toutes choses" ? Cette simple croyance apportée par MBE suffit à nous libérer de l'esclavage, preuve irréfutable que nous sommes dans le 'droit chemin' . "JE SUIS LA LUMIERE DU MONDE -- VOUS ÊTES LA LUMIERE DU MONDE " . Quelle merveille que cette Science Chrétienne ! Quelle chose au monde (matériel), pourrait nous rendre plus heureux que cela ? Merci encore Kari, MBE et bien-sûr notre Dieu suprême ! Soyez donc tous dans l'allégresse ! LOVE ! Michèle

We think that evil is soo powerful!
Really?
Evil is only a suggestion, take it or leave it.
Evil and fear work hand-in-hand through our thinking.
In Matthew’s 4 allegory, when the devil took Jesus to the top of the temple, he suggested that Jesus throw himself down. Jesus saw through this suggestion, he saw that evil had no power to push him, his answer was, “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”
ESPAÑOL
¡Creemos que el mal es tan poderoso!
¿En serio?
El mal es solo una sugestión, tómalo o déjalo.
El mal y el temor andan de la mano en nuestro pensamiento.
En la alegoría de Mateo 4, cuando el diablo llevó a Jesús a la cima del templo, le sugerió que se hechara abajo. Jesús vio através de esta sugestión, vio que el mal no tenía poder para empujarlo, su respuesta fue, “No tentarás al Señor tu Dios.”

Thank you Kari for your inspiring word of wisdom.... we all learn the allness of God good

When my wife, who wasn't a Christian Scientist went for a medical examination, she was told she had cancer. This was in the 1970's. I looked up Cancer in the Merriam Webster Dictionary and one of the definitions was: "A spread of Evil." I was the one who prayed and I taught her how to do it, like this; "How could evil spread, when God is all and God is good." My wife never had Cancer. When ever I hear the media describing Cancer. That simple prayer I use to unrevel evil and expose it to be nothing.

I'm gratefulfor this clear and concise rebuke to the claim that evil is a power. Thank you for this inspriing and comforting, as well as rousing, Daily Lift. This is a needed and appreciated message today and every day.

Just because I can say two times two equals five, don't make it real. If I run my life on the basis of 2X2=5, I will have problems. It is up to each of us to see that no matter how big the error, it never existed, because God is perfect Principle and does not know of the millions of errors about the fact that two times two is equal to four.

If I eat out at the restaurant across the street from where I live in the rural state of Maine, it costs me $12.50 for the least expensive meal, and not including dessert or the gratuity. JSHONLINE costs me $12.00 per month and I can visit any time of the day or night and print out any of the articles in the archives for that subscription. It's an incredible investment in making myself better.
Thank you, enablers, trainers, and participants.

Thank you Kari, for that wonderful Lift. I love the way you clearly and simply tell us how to conquer evil - "do only good."

Thank you for your great affirmation of Truth. I am sure we all love to hear it.

I found your message of such comfort in this world that seems to love to "throw" the evil at us!

Thank you so much Kari for the nice message.

What a precise reminder. Thank you Kari and all Lifters. You've enhanced my day. It puts this perturbing question in its place - nowhere!

"This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." I John 1:5

Let's not go along with evil's systems... All that goes out from God partakes in/of His nature.

To Commenter 39: Keep seeking and finding! Parents and child are still in the kingdom of Love.

Thanks for sharing, everyone!

Excellent... very powerful message... thank you!

Thank you, Kari. This is a topic in my thoughts. I asked the Committee for joint Branches Ky. State Fair booth, to give copies of Peter Crabbe's July 2012 CS Journal article, "Proving the nothingness of evil" to fairgoers. Logic in this Lift, and the article starts one to think about Jesus' works and words. Much as I want people to come to our Churches or Reading Rooms, the thinking this Christian logic opens, will have many broaden their concept of how & why evil can't be real. If they grow to accept just portions of the concept so that it meets some of their needs, it will be the most important purpose of the booth. Mrs. Eddy didn't plan a Church, but instead expected people of many denominations to grow closer to God through understanding Him better. The article included seasoned CS students pondering the nothingness of evil, and this Lift awakens our attention to line up our thinking, based on the all-goodness of our heavenly Father. In textile fiber crafts, unraveling isn't just taking apart a knitted or woven garment. It requires discarding useless threads, and working to put good ones in a stable and useful form, even if just to ball it carefully until needed. Otherwise unraveling can become a mess. Denying evil doesn't finish the job, it is working with the threads we get of Truths and weaving or knitting them into the issues in our lives, resulting in garments of praise, something we can wear & use with comfort and joy. #11 Troy, Thanks for the poem.

Yes, Thank you Kari and all the lifters. I am very grateful for you all. I am thankful for the suggestion about JSHONLINE, also

Your words remind me that we are never alone! Thank you.

Many thanks Kari for this very basic reminder, that in Truth, divine Love [God], evil cannot exist. "Holding your thought to the good and the true,/ Spirit will form you anew." (Christian Science Hymnal Supplement #453).

Thank you Kari for addressing the question that vexes so many. Only in Christian Science have we the answer - that, like the darkness, it does not exist. Our job is to prove it. Thanks to all.

Thank you, #47 Tobias! Excellent!

to #39: My loving heart goes out to you! Keep the home-fires burning with unconditional Love for your child and place this child in God's loving hands. It's called, "Detaching with Love"! We can never control anyone else's life. It's between them and their Higher Power. All we can do is rid ourselves of any resentment or hurt or anger we may be harboring and ask God to purify our hearts. Then we trust that God is in control and know that, even This will work for Good! Let people Go and Trust! We are here to work out our own salvation, not anyone elses! Sending you Love and Blessings and Comfort today!

Such helpful comments from everyone and kind thoughts can only help to uplift (39) "Empty". It's good to remember that in TRUTH we are only ever God's children, and as Psalm 139 tells us Even if we appear to be in hell (absolute misery!) HE is with us and with all HIS children, and there's not a thing that can change that great fact...take heart dear friend, all is well! Thank you to TROY such a nice little poem "Twas love that chased the clouds away! LOVE TO ALL Jx

The Absolute Truth is wonderful, and "tastes like honey" (Rev. 10:10), but our "job of proving it" is not always cut & dry. 'Would love to read practical examples of actual experiences...and how to go deeper when evil seems to win...

I agree with your comment/post number 63. I love to read and understand it repeatedly. thank you because you are not only addressing #39 but to all who read (us) it.

Thank you, Kari. Helpful Lift after hearing about the shooting in WI today. God continues to hold ALL in His Care - evil has never touched anyone - victim, or onlooker, or bystander. Sikh's are among the most peaceable groups of individuals. Our hearts and prayers go out to them with love and comfort.

Had to express my gratefulness to this powerful healing message that I just listened to and was sharing with my 6 year old grandson. We talked about the lie of evil and monsters and I was thinking about what has happened in WI and the all powerful Good expressed by those that were targets who held fast to the One Mind and One Peace and All Good. Not a group defined as Christian Scientists because there is no group anywhere when we truly understand and demonstrate that One Perfect Truth throughout the universe that resides in all of us...God's reflections of Love.

Hi Kari,
I work with that citation S&H 207:10-11 quite frequently. Thank you so much.

Grateful for this powerful uplift.

(just a small point..unraveling is not the correct spelling, it's UNRAVELLING)

70, May I please mention, with love, that my Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary (Well it was new when bought in college, three years after it's 1953 copyright) based on Webster's New International Dictionary, Second Edition) gives both spellings for the word, with Kari's spelling listed first. I would drop it and not respond, but these Lifts are educational, as well as inspirational, and so many read the comments and learn from them, too. God bless you for wanting to have them correct, but in this case, it stands correct as is, without error.

After submitting my above comment to #70, I wondered if newer dictionaries would still recognize both spellings, and checked on my AbiWord spell check, which let both pass without red underlines. Several different processors I've used try to correct the word "healings", even here when I submit this comment, so I'm confident ravelings is still honored, at least in USA publications and computer programs. 0 My computer wants to change healings to healing, dealings, headings, and hearings. To prove "healings" (not in my dictionaries) I had to seek online sources, though I knew it was valid. It's interesting that this web site promotes spiritual healing, and accepts many comments, as well as articles and lectures with testimonies of healings (plural form of the noun "healing"), tries to get my attention that it isn't correct. Well, it must be a metaphysical spell check. There is nothing to ever really be healed. "All, all, is well" as Hymn 350 says.

Here is a "share" link for those who don't subscribe to JSH-Online. Copy and paste it into the address bar to read "Unraveling the Riddle of Evil".

http://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/tzpt2yu4vq?s=e

If you don't subscribe, consider skipping one restaurant meal a month to pay for it, as a previous reader suggested. You can subscribe here: http://jsh.christianscience.com/

What a great resource!

Thank you, Kari and Nate.