Article November 16, 1907 Issue

If our critic understood the teaching of Christian Science,...

W. E. Brown

Pacific Outlook

If our critic understood the teaching of Christian Science, he would know that Mrs. Eddy's statement, "All is Mind," means that which is just the opposite of the idea embraced in Berkeley's statement. While the phraseology is similar, the Principle involved is entirely different. Mrs. Eddy's statement that "all is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation," denies the reality of evil and imperfection of every kind; and with this basic truth all kinds of disease are being healed, thus proving the correctness of the premise. That Berkeley's teaching of the allness of mind did not rest upon the demonstrable Principle discovered by Mrs. Eddy is evidenced by his efforts to cure his nervous colic by the use of tar water and by his writings concerning this water as a healing agency. Berkeley's teaching that external objects exist only when perceived, and are annihilated when not perceived, has absolutely nothing in common with the teaching of Christian Science that all the ideas of God are eternal and indestructible.

While advanced thinkers in all ages have held fragmentary ideas akin to those of Mrs. Eddy, and employed similar modes of expression, the discovery of Christian Science belongs to her exclusively, and the Christian healing made possible by her discovery has not been practised since the days of Christ Jesus. It was she who discovered the basic law underlying the practice of Jesus and his disciples, and from this law evolved a scientific system of healing and redemption susceptible of proof. No worthy Christiam Science practitioner is actuated by mercenary motives, nor is his chief desire the accumulation of riches. Practitioners charge a very moderate sum for their services, as compared with the fees of physicians and salaries of clergymen, and yet the work of the Christian Scientist embodies both the healing of the sick and the redemption of the sinner.

Our critic of the opinion that the Bible does not teach the non-existence of matter, an opinion he would dismiss if he were acquainted with the teaching of Christian Science regarding matter. According to Christian Science matter is a material concept of the ideas or manifestations of infinite Mind. This false material concept is to be corrected through a purified consciousness, attained through spiritual growth. This is in harmony with Scriptural teachings. Paul says. The things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal;" and it was prophesied of Jesus by Isaiah, "And he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears." Spiritual (or real) things are spiritually discerned. Healing in Christian Science is accomplished through the realization of spiritual perfection, which destroys the errors of the human mind, and consequently their physical manifestations called disease.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

If our critic understood the teaching of Christian Science,...

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access