Article September 6, 1913 Issue

It is altogether out of place to mention Christian Science...

Silas A. Payne

The Chattanooga (Tenn.) Times

It is altogether out of place to mention Christian Science in connection with spiritualism, evolutionism, and new thought, as our critic has presumed to do, since Christian Science has nothing in common with these systems either in theory or in practise. The assertion, "These teachings are sweeping away the faith of the people in the Bible as the inspired Word of God," cannot be truly applied to Christian Science, the-first important point or religious tenet of its teachings being: "As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life" (Science and Health, p. 497). And thousands of Christian Scientists all over the globe testify that they never understood the Bible so well, or loved its teachings so much, as they have since they took up the study of Christian Science. In refutation of the statement, "One of the fundamental principles which is the most frequently denied by the higher critics is the doctrine of the divinity of Christ," so far as its application to Christian Science is concerned, the following quotation from page 497 of Science and Health is given: "We acknowledge and adore one supreme and infinite God. We acknowledge His Son, one Christ; ... We acknowledge Jesus' atonement as the evidence of divine, efficacious Love, unfolding man's unity with God through Christ Jesus the Wayshower; and we acknowledge that man is saved through Christ, through Truth, Life, and Love as demonstrated by the Galilean Prophet in healing the sick and overcoming sin and death." As to "theories of self-salvation," these have nothing to do with Christian Science, unless indeed it be that Christian Science, properly understood and applied, must inevitably destroy all such theories.

Far from being a "poisonous evil," Christian Science is the "law of God, the law of good, interpreting and demonstrating the divine Principle and rule of universal harmony" (Rudimental Divine Science, p. 1). Being the law of God, Christian Science is coexistent and coeternal God, and thus God Himself precludes its legitimate classification as a "man-made theology." Mrs. Eddy did not invent Christian Science, she discovered it. St. Paul beheld this same law as the "law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus," and demonstrated to a remarkable degree its benign influence in human experience. The proof that this Science is not a "poisonous evil" is seen in the good that it does. "A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. ... Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."

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