Article July 25, 1908 Issue

This is not the seventeenth century

Pacific Outlook

This is not the seventeenth century. The days when witches were put to death and men ostracized and even exiled, if not worse, on account of their religious beliefs, are past. The human mind is growing bigger and broader. People are less prone to condemn without a hearing than they were in the days of the Puritans. They are growing more tolerant of other people's beliefs. This truth has been strikingly exemplified in the case of a growing factor in the religious world, known as Christian Science. A few years ago orthodoxy condemned Christian Science as unworthy of a moment's consideration at the hands of the Church. To-day orthodoxy recognizes in the Principle underlying this faith that which must be met as a force to be seriously reckoned with. Marvelous, indeed, has been the development of this force, new—and yet eternal. In Los Angeles alone it is estimated that fully ten thousand persons are either professed Christian Scientists or intensely interested therein. These are, for the most part, men and women of intelligence and culture, not unreasoning fanatics, as some may suppose. Why are they Christian Scientists? What is it that has attracted them to this faith, holding them firmly in the face of the most violent opposition and assault? The question is one worthy of profound thought. The Pacific Outlook, after having devoted some time to a consideration of the subject, has concluded to present, from time to time, brief articles dealing with this Science, being actuated thereto solely by the belief that thoughtful men and women desire to consider the evidence on both sides of every question having a bearing upon the progress of humanity.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

This is not the seventeenth century

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access