Article January 31, 1914 Issue

A contributor, under the caption, "Ideas of a Plain Man,"...

George A. Law—Meriden, Conn.

The Morning Record

A contributor, under the caption, "Ideas of a Plain Man," after having stated that "the history of civilization is the story of a long conflict with pain," among other things says, "We have even produced a sect that denies that there is any suffering in this world." Inasmuch as others have entertained this absurd notion concerning the teaching of Christian Science, I am prone to believe that the foregoing statement may have reference to the Christian Science denomination. That your readers may not be misled and so share in this mistaken concept of Christian Science, kindly allow me to assure them that this is precisely what Christian Science does not deny. On the contrary, its teaching in this respect is that suffering, including pain, sickness, discord, etc., is experienced only through a false sense of existence, and that it has no rightful place in the life of the true spiritual man, the image and likeness of God, mentioned in the true account of the creation as recorded in the first chapter of Genesis. The fact that Christian Science is engaged in a campaign against suffering, to eliminate it from the experience of humanity, is sufficient proof of the fallacy of the assertion made.

In closing, the writer of the article in question asks, "Is pain after all a bad thing?" Is the question intended to convey the idea that he considers it a good thing? A study of Scripture reveals the fact that God created all good, therefore if pain is good, God must have made it; and hence we not only have the incongruity of a God who is Love afflicting His children, but when we attempt to destroy pain and provide hospitals and asylums for unfortunates, as stated in the article in question, we are manifestly endeavoring to relieve conditions which God has created, conditions which necessarily operate from the activity of His law. Then, again, we have the spectacle of Jesus, not only destroying something which God has created, but teaching his followers how to overcome and exclude pain and suffering from life. It is too apparent to need emphasizing, that if pain emanated from God, and is good, Jesus would not have devoted his life to the healing of sickness and sin. He taught his followers by practical demonstration how to assume dominion over these destroyers of man's peace and happiness, which dominion is man's rightful heritage. His admonition to "preach the gospel" and "heal the sick," Christian Scientists are striving to obey.

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A contributor, under the caption, "Ideas of a Plain Man,"...

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