Article May 13, 1911 Issue

The philosophy and theology of Christian Science are...

W. C. Williams

Baltimore (Md.) American

The philosophy and theology of Christian Science are that man is, as the Bible states, the child of God, made in His image and likeness. God is Spirit, therefore His likeness, man, must be spiritual. Christian Scientists contend then that the spiritual man is the real man, that "it is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing;" and in the sense that only that which God created is real, is matter considered unreal, and not in the ordinary sense.

Paul said, "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God." We know that Jesus said: "In the world ye shall have tribulation," but he also said: "Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world," and again: "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do." His commands were unceasing that all should overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil, and in overcoming them they would overcome tribulation, disease, and the "last enemy." death. Christian Scientists believe that disease and death are realities as the world sees them, but from the spiritual standpoint they believe what Jesus said: "If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death."

Mrs. Eddy's definition of the Holy Ghost is Jesus' definition in John: "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." "If ye love me, keep my commandments." And his command was to heal the sick as well as to preach the gospel. All cures in Christian Science are made through the understanding that God is the only power; therefore, the healing is not accomplished with the aid of anything else, and the authentic cases of healing through Christian Science are too numerous and too well known to be lightly cast aside. Christian Science accomplishes even more in overcoming sin, but these cases are not given the publicity of those which record the healing of disease.

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The philosophy and theology of Christian Science are...

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