Article July 29, 1911 Issue

You ask the question, "What do Christian Scientists say...

John L. Rendall

Washington (Ia.) Democrat

You ask the question, "What do Christian Scientists say about the charge, viz., that they claim there is no such thing as sin?" This is a fair question and is entitled to a fair reply. In the first place, Christian Scientists do not say "there is no such thing as sin" in any such sense as this minister uses it. Christian Scientists recognize very clearly that, according to human experience, sin, sickness, disease, and death are very real. They are part of the "carnal mind," of which St. Paul said, "to be carnally minded is death."

Mrs. Eddy states on page 447 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures": "To assume that there are no claims of evil and yet to indulge them, is a moral offense;" and on page 448, "Evil which obtains in the bodily senses, but which the heart condemns, has no foundation; but if evil is uncondemned, it is undenied and nurtured. Under such circumstances, to say that there is no evil, is an evil in itself." There is no authority anywhere in Christian Science for the indulgence of sin, but in all its teachings there is the exhortation to forsake sin and to become so pure in thought, word, and deed that sin ceases to have even the appearance of power and reality. Only one who has attained to this desirable result can truthfully say, "There is no sin." This is in accordance with the teachings of Christ Jesus and is good Christian Science doctrine.

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