Article April 1, 1911 Issue

Having read the letter published last week in the Pacific...

Olcott Haskell

Pacific

Having read the letter published last week in the Pacific from a subscriber who asked for more light on certain points concerning Christian Science, I present the following reply:—

A more careful reading of the pages of Science and Health, from which this inquirer quotes, is all that is needed to supply a satisfactory answer. For example, to state that on page 329 of her book Mrs. Eddy says that "divine mercy never pardons," does not convey the meaning shown by the context. The statement in the 1906 edition of Science and Health (from which it would seem that this partial quotation was made) is: "Divine mercy destroys error, but never pardons it." The meaning is made still clearer in more recent editions through the statement: "The pardon of divine mercy is the destruction of error." Again, it is no more correct to refer to God as "a divine Principle" than it would be to refer to Him as "a divine Love." Mrs. Eddy never used such an expression. The statement referred to on page 465 of Science and Health is this: "God is incorporeal, divine, supreme, infinite Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love." On the same page she further expressly states that there is only one God or Principle.

Christian Scientists have no desire to urge their conception of God upon the consideration of those not prepared to receive it; but it seems impossible to conceive of God as all-wise, all-powerful, and omnipresent divine Love, or Principle, and yet as less than the infinite Person. Christian Science teaches that man, as the image or idea of God, is spiritual. This is the opposite of the teaching of pantheism, which, as popularly understood, conceives of God and man as both spiritual and material.

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Article
The average Christian is content to admit that there was...
April 1, 1911
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit