Article October 4, 1913 Issue

Lest some one should be misled by our clerical critic's...

John L. Rendall

Toledo (Iowa) Democrat

Lest some one should be misled by our clerical critic's perversion of the Christian Science definition of God, let me here state unequivocally that Christian Science teaches but "one God, the Father, of whom are all things." Our critic states, "According to Mrs. Eddy, God is not a person, but an influence, a principle." This statement betrays the most superficial sort of reasoning. Were he more familiar with Christian Science, he would understand that when Mrs. Eddy defines God as Principle, she clearly and scientifically recognizes Him to be the one Principle, Mind, Spirit by reason of which all things are and have their origin and existence. In her Message of 1901 to The Mother Church, Mrs. Eddy states (p. 4):—

"We understand that God is personal in a scientific sense, but is not corporeal nor anthropomorphic. We understand that God is not finite; He is the infinite Person, but not three persons in one person. Christian Scientists are theists and monotheists. Those who misjudge us because we understand that God is the infinite One instead of three, should be able to explain God's personality rationally. Christian Scientists consistently conceive of God as One because He is infinite; and as triune, because He is Life, Truth, Love, and these three are one in essence and in office.

"If in calling God 'divine Principle,' meaning divine Love, more frequently than Person, we merit the epithet 'godless,' we naturally conclude that he breaks faith with his creed, or has no possible conception of ours, who believes that three persons are defined strictly by the word Person, or as One; for if Person is God, and he believes three persons constitute the Godhead, does not Person here lose the nature of one God, lose monotheism, and become less coherent than the Christian Scientist's sense of Person as one divine infinite triune Principle, named in the Bible Life, Truth, Love?—for each of these possesses the nature of all, and God omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient."

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
In a report of a sermon in a recent issue is a statement...
October 4, 1913
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit