Article December 28, 1907 Issue

KNOWLEDGE VS. BELIEF

WILLIAM LLOYD.

Why do Christian Scientists when asked regarding their religious belief refer enquirers to their text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy? Recently a criticism in line with the above question caused me to ponder. It is certainly true that we do this. It is also certain that one may ask a member of almost any other religious denomination what he believes and obtain a prompt answer. Then why not from a Christian Scientist? In reasoning the matter out I became convinced that the difference in the answers given is just the difference between knowledge and belief.

A creed, of belief, can be easily memorized and repeated, whereas positive knowledge is gained only by study, often arduous, and the results obtained are more an individual understanding of how to do than of how to say. The dictionaries define science as "knowledge," therefore Christian Science is Christian knowledge, and a Christ Jesus, in exactly the same way that a mathematical scientist is one who has studied mathematics. One is, in the full sense of the word, a demonstration of Christianity, the other a demonstration of mathematics.

If one were to ask a demonstrator of mathematics to explain briefly his belief in algebra to one who cannot understand how he works out sums with letters of the alphabet instead of figures, the mathematician would undoubtedly reply, "I do not believe in algebra; I understand it. I know it because I have studied and demonstrated it, but I cannot explain its workings in a few words. You must get the text-book and study it. If you study it faithfully you can as surely demonstrate its teachings as I can, for you will then understand it as I do." A Christian Scientist's position is identical, and his answer would be practically the same.

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