Article May 23, 1908 Issue

Our critic says: "The two great truths which Christian Science...

H. Coulson Fairchild—Trenton, N.J.

State Gazette

Our critic says: "The two great truths which Christian Science may be said to teach are: First, the unity which underlies the universe as expressed in the formula, Allness of God, Spirit, and the transcendence of mind." Christian Science would spell this word Mind with a capital M. Thus rendered the word would refer to the divine Mind, and to nothing else. He states that there is nothing original or new in these doctrines. We think, however, that their application and the demonstration of Christian healing on the basis of these new though old eternal truths is entirely in this age the discovery of Mrs. Eddy. The churches long ago classified the healing work of Jesus and his apostles as "miracles," "contraventions of divine law," rather than the natural laws of God at work to heal and save. Mrs. Eddy teaches that the so-called miracles of Jesus were the natural result of an understanding of the omnipresence of God.

Our critic also remarks that the doctrine of the "all-ness of God, Spirit," and the "transcendence of mind" have always been taught by Christians and theistic teachers. The immanence of God as expressed in St. Paul's phrase, "In him we live, and move, and have our being," and the doctrine that the spiritual life should dominate the physical, as set forth in the teaching of Christ, and of the New Testament generally, are truths which all Christians accept. Now, in accepting these truths our critic and all Christians accept the very premises of Christian Science, but to the Christian Scientist there is a vast difference between merely accepting a doctrine and in actually believing one. Judge Ewing of Chicago illustrates this in his lecture on Christian Science. He says: "If Christian people assert with St. Paul that in God they live and move and have their being, it is at least very inconsistent to say this, and say we believe it, and then go down to the drug store for our life, our health, and our salvation from sickness." The judge thinks this is especially inconsistent when we remember that Jesus healed all manner of diseases (not simply mental troubles) without drugs, and commanded his disciples to go and do likewise.

It is said by our critic, "Hypnotic suggestion is undoubtedly able in many cases to effect the cure of a disease which has hitherto baffled all the efforts of the physicians." Attention is called by Christian Science to the fact that Jesus rebuked so-called hypnotism in every form. The belief in hypnotism, lately termed in one of its phases auto-suggestion, is said to be capable of being used for evil purposes by mortals; hence in Christian Science its use is forbidden, though Christian Scientists understand that hypnotism is without power to do either good or evil. In fact, "evil is not power" (Science and Health, p. 192); it is a "kingdom divided against itself" and cannot stand. Christian Science depends entirely upon the power of God to cast out all error and disease; we do not believe that the human mind, nor any of its so-called healing forces, will ever permanently benefit the sick. Any seeming effect from hypnotism is delusion, whereas divine Truth heals quickly and wholly while spiritually regenerating mankind.

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