Article July 16, 1910 Issue

It is a favorite pastime with some of the clergy who...

Charles K. Skinner

Detroit (Mich.) News Tribune

It is a favorite pastime with some of the clergy who think themselves opposed to Christian Science, to make reckless assertions concerning its teaching, taking it for granted that the public will accept them unquestioningly, on account of the source from which they emanate. The assertion that "Christian Science healing is hypnotic suggestion" is absolutely untrue, and the result either of careless reading of the text-book, Science and Health, or of wilful misrepresentation. Hypnotic suggestion is but the operation of one human mind over another, the submission of the weaker to the stronger mentality, and is as far from Christian Science teaching as the east is from the west. If Christian Science had been in any sense connected with suggestion, as our critic asserts, it would have dishonored God, become impotent, and long since ceased to exist.

Christian Science teaching and practice is founded exclusively on the Scriptures and the teachings and works of Jesus Christ, and its followers do their works only as they have that Mind "which was also in Christ Jesus," as St. Paul expresses it. It is the realization, in a measure, of the heritage of "dominion over all," which was given to man (the spiritual man) at the creation, in connection with the Master's promise: "Lo, I [the Christ] am with you alway," which enables Christian Scientists to do in a modest way the works of healing. The demand of Jesus was, "Preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils [evils];" and almost his last words were: "If ye love me, keep my commandments." Neither our critic nor any one else can show any authority for divorcing the command of healing from that of preaching the gospel. If it is incumbent on the church to obey one, the same is required in the case of the other.

The Master's works were no miracles to him, but the working out of divine law. To the materialist of that age and this, they were and are considered with superstitious awe. It was difficult even for the disciples to understand Jesus' words, "I can of mine own self do nothing," wrapt up as they were in his personality. Peter alone was able to fathom the depth of the question, "Whom say ye that I am?" His answer, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God," brought forth Jesus' blessing, "Upon this rock I will build my church." Not upon the personality of Peter, by any means, but upon the understanding of Peter that it was God, working through the man Jesus, which gave him power over all things; and because of this understanding every man and woman who is sufficiently spiritual may do the same works, for God is no respecter of persons.

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