Article August 13, 1910 Issue

To say that Christian Scientists do not believe in baptism...

John L. Rendall

Keokuk (Ia.) Constitution-Democrat

To say that Christian Scientists do not believe in baptism is simply juggling with phrases and evasion of facts. Christian Scientists fully agree with the necessity for that which baptism includes in the word "purification," and the use of water in either allopathic or homeopathic doses does not aid in its attainment. The statement made by this critic, that "Christian Science does not believe even in the real existence of water," is not at all a logical deduction from any teachings of Christian Science. Christian Scientists do not deny the existence and reality of anything that pertains to God's creation. Their contention is that what appears to the human senses as real is merely "an object of sensation," the projection of the human concept as to what constitutes reality, and that this false sense will some day, under right conditions, be displaced by a spiritual understanding as to what is absolutely real.

There is no warrant in the teachings of Christian Science for the statement made by this critic that "God is the universe," or for his declaration that Christian Science is pantheistic. A clear distinction is made in Christian Science between God and His creation, between God and that which expresses Him. The creator cannot be in the creation, because the greater cannot be in the lesser. It is very clearly and plainly taught that the universe and man reflect, express, or manifest the creative power of God,—Spirit. This is clearly that God, Spirit, is infinitely above that which He created. It seems to me that the charge of pantheism could more reasonably and logically be made against those who assume that God is infinite and also that He can be limited, outlined, or humanly circumscribed, or that He enters in some degree into material conditions.

The followers of Christian Science accept and practise the fundamental teachings of Christianity as emphasized by Jesus Christ and as practised by his disciples. They recognize but one God, one creator, one Christ,—the Wayshower, the Saviour of humanity. They recognize the resurrection of Christ Jesus from the dead, and the consequent proofs of immortality. The distinction which Christian Science makes between Jesus as the human man and Christ as the "divine idea" is scientifically accurate and Scripturally correct.

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