Article June 22, 1912 Issue

In the course of events, when critics had about exhausted...

Alfred Farlow

Salt Lake City (Utah) Telegram

In the course of events, when critics had about exhausted the epithets at their command and it was still desired to continue "calling names," it occurred to some one to apply the words "modern witchcraft" to Christian Science, but unfortunately for the one who chose the epithet, as well as for those who borrowed it, it does not in any sense apply to Christian Science. Witchcraft was based upon pure superstition, while the teaching of Christian Science with regard to animal magnetism is a scientific, sensible description of the evils resultant from a false belief concerning the action of "the carnal mind," and a Christian and scientific method of guarding against such deception by being spiritually awake. It was not Mrs. Eddy who invented the false belief that one human will may be exercised to the detriment of another. This superstitious falsehood has been in vogue for ages, and though presumptuous, it can deceive only the unwary.

Mrs. Eddy's study of metaphysics quite naturally brought her in contact with that peculiar mental exercise which psychologists have denominated "pernicious mental evil," and she has taught her students how to defend themselves against this superstition by the simple act of being awake to the truth. A lie can have no influence whatever upon those who are well enough informed to know that it is a lie, notwithstanding the fact that a lie whispered mentally or audibly may find a response with the uninformed. Every evil suggestion is based upon a false belief in the carnal mind, which according to Scriptural teaching is not a product of the will of God, and for that reason has no foundation in fact. Such evils are destroyed in Christian Science by the understanding that God is the only real cause and that therefore evil has no power; that the very omnipotence and omnipresence of God preclude the possibility of an evil power. Far from having originated pernicious mental evil, which because of the fitness of the term she designates as malicious animal magnetism, Mrs. Eddy has simply exposed this evil, shown its fallacy, thus disarming the true Christian Scientist of the fear thereof. Her discovery and exposure of this error should not be mistaken as an endorsement thereof. It is not Mrs. Eddy who believes in such a power, nor her students. Christian Science destroys all false belief by its clear and demonstrable understanding that God, good, is the only real power. Mrs. Eddy never believed in the power of evil and never practised or attempted to practise such a belief.

If our critic is at all informed on psychological subjects, he is aware that a belief in evil mental suggestion has existed for ages, and there are cases on record where the courts have been called upon to consider a condition of this kind. Thus it may be seen that Mrs. Eddy did not originate this belief, but the world owes to her a debt of gratitude for having provided a remedy for the superstition. We agree with our critic that if a man exhibited a belief in peculiar superstitions which had been advocated from time to time, he might be charged with at least being deceived, but Mrs. Eddy's situation relative to the matter is entirely different. She has exposed and denounced the superstition and shown the world how to guard against these deceptions by being conscious of the truth, which is necessary to offset and nullify the superstition.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

In the course of events, when critics had about exhausted...

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access