Article December 6, 1913 Issue

In a recent issue of your paper, an article entitled Cults...

Charles K. Skinner—Detroit, Mich.

Northwestern Weekly Review

In a recent issue of your paper, an article entitled Cults appeared, in which the writer attempted to pay his respects to various classes of people. He tells us that Christian Science occupies a field all alone by itself, for it is neither "philosophical, religious, nor scientific." Let us examine this statement. There are at least two millions of people in the world who have been healed physically and morally by Christian Science. They have come from every walk in life; they are composed of nearly every nationality; most of them have been members of other religious denominations, and among the number many are doubtless the peer of our critic in intelligence, courtesy, and love for humanity. Why did all this vast army accept Christian Science? Why do these people remain faithful to its teachings? No one is asked to believe Christian Science, or ever will be asked to believe it, any more than he will be asked to believe in the multiplication table, as has been aptly said. Is it not because these same people have found a more practical application of Christ's teachings than they ever had before?

It has been truthfully said that Christian Science is practical because it produces results which can be seen. If one is raised from a bed of sickness and restored to perfect health without resort to doctors or drugs, or material remedies of any kind, a good work is done which makes its appeal to the human sense of what is right and true. But it is no less a good work—rather, it is a higher work—when one is redeemed from the malice, revenge, and other products of the carnal mind; and it is no less practical. Our critic says that Christian Science is "not religious." The definition of religion, according to best authority, is "reverence to God, practical piety, love and devotion to humanity." We are also told that Christian Science is neither "philosophical nor scientific." The definition of philosophy is "the science of first principles and causation." Science in its broadest sense is defined as "knowledge." Christian Science, therefore, means a practical understanding of Christ's teachings as demonstrated by him. It is "philosophical" because it teaches and proves that God is the first and only cause and Principle of everything that is real. It is a religion because it teaches and emphasizes reverence and obedience to God and the Scriptures, and the practical living or exemplification of the commandment, "Love thy neighbor as thyself." The first tenet of Christian Science teaching is, "As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life" (Science and Health, p. 497).

If Christian Science "tosses aside all the accumulated knowledge of the ages," as the critic asserts, it makes the distinction that Jesus Christ did in his parable of the good and bad seed: "Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn." "The knowledge of the ages," derived from materialistic teaching and practise, has brought mankind no nearer to the understanding of God and the relation of man to Him than were men ages ago. On the contrary, Christian Science has brought to the world the practical use of Christ's teaching, and that it is as possible now as when he said, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also."

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

In a recent issue of your paper, an article entitled Cults...

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access