Article March 9, 1929 Issue

Entertaining the Truth

CONSTANCE HEWARD

To the beginner in the study of Christian Science many words appear to take on new meanings; and one comes to realize that any specific word used in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, is remarkably well placed, and gives the required significance as probably no other word could.

On looking up the word "entertain" in a dictionary, we find the following among the definitions given: "To keep or hold in the mind; to harbor in thought; to cherish;" and it is in this sense that Mrs. Eddy uses the word on page 411 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," where she writes, "Disease is always induced by a false sense mentally entertained, not destroyed."

Here is a definite statement as to the cause of disease; and if the student will ponder it carefully he will see that the remedy lies in gaining the spiritual sense of existence. Mrs. Eddy says "mentally entertained, not destroyed." This clearly implies that the false sense should be destroyed instead of being entertained; and on page 405 of Science and Health, in speaking of the false beliefs of hatred, lust, revenge, and deceit, she gives the method by which this destruction may be brought about. She says, "Choke these errors in their early stages, if you would not cherish an army of conspirators against health, happiness, and success." Disease may be put in the same category; and thus the rule can be used with equal success for the destruction of any and every false belief by which mortals are beset, since every inharmonious belief is but a false material sense of true being.

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