Article April 2, 1910 Issue

That the sharp line existing between Christian Science...

Charles K. Skinner

Grand Rapids (Mich.) Herald

That the sharp line existing between Christian Science teaching and practice and other systems of mental healing may be defined to your readers, I ask your indulgence to explain it. Christian Science starts with the premise of but one creator, one Life, one Mind or intelligence, and that one is God, or infinite Mind. It gives no power to any lesser mind. It accepts the statement of the creation as given in the first chapter of Genesis, in which God says: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion," as conclusive evidence that the true man is spiritual—very much hidden to human sense it is true, but nevertheless available to all who awaken to their spiritual birthright. Christian Science teaches that God is Love, the omnipotent intelligence that constantly upholds and protects all His children. This understanding fosters a perfect confidence in His care, and we put our hand in His hand, as it were, just as we did, when children, in that of our human parents, knowing that no harm can come to us when we sincerely and constantly rely on His protection. It is the realization that as God is perfect, the true or spiritual man before mentioned must be and is perfect now and always, even as the reflection is always like the original.

It was the clear understanding of this truth which enabled Christ Jesus to destroy all sense of discord in mankind and the physical universe with the spoken word. On the contrary, suggestion, mental science, mesmerism, hypnotism, and kindred systems rely entirely on the control of one human mind over another, or on auto-suggestion, the art of deceiving one's self, which one of its advocates defines as "the fine and beneficent art of fooling the body into good behavior." Very different is the treatment of a Christian Scientist, which is the prayer of understanding, that which brings to consciousness of his patient the ever presence of God, and constant peace, harmony, and rest, driving out fear, anxiety, and care.

On the subject of physical cures by mental suggestion, Prof. Dickenson S. Miller in the New York Times of Nov. 14, 1908, says: "We almost never can truthfully say to a patient, 'You will get well.' We do not know whether be will or not. I confess to the 'unpractical' moral squeamishness of wishing to banish the lie from suggestion altogether." The difference between the above practice and that of Christian Science is that the latter impresses his patient with the understanding that he is by man's birthright in the very presence of God, infinite Love. He is made to know how God is ever present, and of man's protection through his relation to God.

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That the sharp line existing between Christian Science...

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