Article July 8, 1911 Issue

A few days ago, before a Washington audience, a lecturer...

William S. Campbell

Washington (D.C.) Post

A few days ago, before a Washington audience, a lecturer made this statement: "Christian Science teaches, 'All is mind; there is no matter.' And the Scriptures declare, 'Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.' " The speaker added: "Christian Science does not teach that matter is a reality which will some day be destroyed, for if matter were one of the factors of being it could never be cast out, but would remain fixed forever. It is not that the material universe was created to continue for a time, until it had served its purpose, then to be burned up and destroyed, but that it has no existence save in the mistaken belief of mortals."

This is not an assertion that the universe does not exist. On the contratry, Christian Science teaches that the universe does exist, and that is exists absolutely perfect and more beautiful than the material senses can comprehend. "Now we see through a glass, darkly," is the Scriptural way of expressing the mortal sense of God's universe. To many this explanation of matter may seem a strange proposition. That the Bible should be regarded as a text-book of science may seem stranger still. Yet it is upon this basis that the works of Christian Science are being performed.

It is a significant fact that human reasoning has never been able to define matter. It is something that can be seen and felt, perhaps tasted, possibly smelled; but to give a definition that will stand a scientific test has never been accomplished along material lines. It ought not to be difficult, however, to note that the only evidence there is of matter comes through the material senses. A step farther leads to the conclusion that when an individual has passed the stage in which he is dependent on the material senses, he has passed the stage where he has any evidence of matter. If this latter condition of consciousness is the real and eternal, then the former was unreal and temporal; and this is precisely the teaching of Christian Science.

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 advocates of materialism may not be willing to...
July 8, 1911
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit