Article November 7, 1901 Issue

Scientific Christianity

BY BLISS KNAPP.

The definition of religion as the "conformity in faith and life to the precepts inculcated in the Bible, respecting the conduct of life and duty toward God and man" (Webster), "is a spiritual process, and its history continuously implies the affections and operations of mind" (Enc. Brit., Vol. 23,p.274).

According to this definition, religion is a spiritual process attainable only through the operations of mind. But the word religion is involved in the definition of theology as, "the science of God or of religion" (Webster). "That theology is the science of religion implies that theology must not only succeed religion, but must evolve out of it a system of truths entitled to be called a science" (Enc. Brit.). Theology, therefore, by claiming to be the Science of religion, is from deduction, the science of a certain spiritual process attainable only through the operation of mind. Now any spiritual process is divine: hence, the phrase becomes divine Mind, or simply Mind; and the definition reads, the Science of Mind. This agrees with the Christian Science definition of God as Mind as well as with the commonly accepted definition of theology as the Science of God, therefore of Mind.

Again, theology is defined as "the science of Christian faith and life" (Webster). Now Christian faith and life is Christianity, which permits the rendering of theology as the Science of Christianity; or what is yet simpler, Christian Science. Therefore we have evolved the following definitions of true theology,—the Science of God or of Mind, and Christian Science.

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Article
Protection
November 7, 1901
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit