Article June 18, 1910 Issue

Our critic asks: "Is Science and Health divinely inspired...

Alfred Farlow

Forth Worth (Tex.) Record

Our critic asks: "Is Science and Health divinely inspired and of equal authority with the Bible?" and "Is the Bible sufficient for our faith and practice without any human book and work added to it?" We desire to say that a sermon or commentary which adds to or takes from the meaning of the Bible would not be a help but a detriment. Moreover, the purpose of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, is not as an adjunct to the Scriptures, but, as its name indicates, a key to them. It is an inspired sermon respecting God's Word—the Christian Scientist's commentary on the Bible.

Inspiration, as the term is used in this connection, means, according to Webster, "divine inbreathing." In common parlance it refers to ideas which are divine in contradistinction to human opinion. It refers to teaching which is demonstrably true in contradistinction to a mere belief which one takes for granted and yet has not been able to prove. The teaching of Science and Health—in other words, Christian Science—proves its divine origin; that is, proves itself to be spiritually true by its "works," the results which it produces, by its effects upon mankind— its ability to overpower that which is not true. To illustrate: If one has a dark room he may admit the light and dispel the darkness, but if one has a light room he cannot admit the darkness and dispel the light. It is thus proven that the light is real and the darkness unreal; so, when sin and sickness are destroyed by divine power, both the premises and conclusions of Christian Science are convincingly and conclusively demonstrated.

It is the understanding of Christian Scientists that inspiration is a state of active right consciousness, the apprehension of spiritual truth. Mrs. Eddy became the Discoverer of Christian Science because she was the one who, through earnest seeking, aspiring endeavor, and spiritual growth had attained to the exalted heights requisite to a discernment of the deeper meaning, the healing significance of the Master's teaching. She had been sufficiently attentive in her service to God to acquaint herself with Him.

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