Article May 23, 1908 Issue

CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS AND THE BIBLE

CAPT. D. D. BAYNES.

The opposition shown to Christian Science by professed Christians of other denominations often springs from a belief that the teaching of Christian Science is contrary to that of the Bible. That they are mistaken in this belief is shown by the following tenet, to which all who unite with the Christian Science Church are required to subscribe: "As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life" (Science and Health, p. 497). Let us assume, as a starting-point for consideration of this attitude of opposition, that all who profess to be Christians—in which category we must in-clude Christian Scientists—accept Paul's statement that the Bible is able to make them "wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." Then, when professed Christians attack Christian Science and its adherents, who, if the above-quoted passage from the Christian Science text-book means anything, do most certainly thus accept the Bible, the ground of disagreement must be either on account of differing interpretations of the Scriptures or because of misinterpretation of the teachings of Christian Science.

In either case the onus lies with those who attack Christian Science on the ground of its being contrary to the Scriptures,—if they desire to prove that their interpretation of Holy Writ is right and that of Christian Science is wrong,—first to come to a correct understanding of the Christian Science teaching. This is possible only through an open-minded, entirely unbiased study of the text-book of Christian Science, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy. In order to study this book without the bias of preconceived opinions and beliefs, the student must be willing to put them aside for the time being and examine the book solely from the basis upon which it is written. That the book is scientific will appear as it is seen that its basic idea permeates every statement therein, and that, when understood, no statement will be found to be inconsistent with this idea.

If the student can accept the basic idea, then he cannot honestly reject the book as unscientific unless he can prove that it also teaches what is inconsistent with that idea. Assuming that he is unable (as every sincere student has found) to prove any inconsistency, he must then proceed to consider whether its teachings accord with those of Holy Writ. He will probably find at first that previous concepts of the meaning of the Scriptures will assert themselves in conflict with that which Christian Science declares, but, if he will again put these preconceptions on the shelf and study the Bible solely from the fresh view-point of Christian Science, he will assuredly find the Scriptures indeed making him "wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus," to a degree he has not previously deemed possible.

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