Article February 25, 1911 Issue

Every now and then some individual or paper uses the...

San Marcial (N. M.) Standard

Every now and then some individual or paper uses the word "imagined" in connection with a remark about Christian Science, implying that the members of that church "imagine" a great many things. One day, while working in a busy office, a fellow laborer made a light remark along the line above mentioned. Going to the speaker, we quietly asked: "Have you ever attended a service in the Christian Science church?" The answer was, "No." Then we asked: "Have you read the Christian Science text-book, 'Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures' by Mrs. Eddy?" Again the answer was, "No." Then we asked the individual to go with us to church that night, as it was Wednesday. The result was another regular attendant at services and later the investigator, having gone elsewhere to work, wrote for an address where Christian Science literature might be obtained, for use in further study of the subject. Invariably it is the misinformed who criticize this religion, doing so from hearsay, not having made a personal investigation of the subject.

In II. Corinthians Paul says: "For the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." In Christian Science the words "unreal" and "real" are used in somewhat the same manner as Paul uses the words "temporal" and "eternal"—the real meaning that which cannot be destroyed, and the unreal implying mortality or that which decays. Thus the object which appears to mortal eye, or the sensation which is manifested on mortal body, is in no sense "imaginary," but both are unreal in the sense that they are temporal (unreal); that is, not eternal (real).

Often the word "imagined" is unthinkingly used as though it were identical in meaning with "unreal." No well-informed individual makes this mistake, and when it is voiced, one may know at once that the speaker is not well versed in the teachings of Christian Science.

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