Article August 8, 1914 Issue

The anonymous writer of the letter on "Faith as a Cure,"...

Algernon Hervey Bathurst—Burton-on-Trent, England

Burton Daily Mail

The anonymous writer of the letter on "Faith as a Cure," takes upon himself the giving of an explanation of the teaching of Christian Science which he has obtained from a book, the author of which is not a Christian Scientist, and which, therefore, cannot be taken as giving a correct or in any way reliable explanation of this religion. Permit me to point out that prayer in Christian Science is, as Mrs. Eddy writes on page 1 of Science and Health, "a spiritual understanding of Him [God]." The healing, therefore, accomplished through Christian Science treatment, or prayer, is not brought about by the intervention of the material, or mortal man, for, as Paul writes, "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: ... because they are spiritually discerned." The basis of Christian Science teaching and practice is the omnipotence and omnipresence of God. Now, it must inevitably follow that the knowledge of the omnipotence of God includes the knowledge of the powerlessness or unreality of evil. God being omnipotent, there is, therefore, but one power, namely, good; and the belief that good and evil coexist and are in continual conflict, corresponds to the eating of the fruit "of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil," and the "house divided against itself" to which Jesus referred as being unable to stand.

It is just on this point, namely, the unity or allness of God, good, that Christian Science differs so widely from any other system of religion or healing. Nevertheless, this all-important point, recognized only through spiritual discernment, is so simple that it is grasped with facility by children. "Spiritual causation," Mrs. Eddy writes on page 170 of Science and Health, "is the one question to be considered," adding, in the same paragraph, that the "age seems ready to approach this subject, to ponder somewhat the supremacy of Spirit, and at least to touch the hem of Truth's garment." The teaching of Christ Jesus and Christian Science are one and the same, and true Christian or scientific healing can, therefore, be accomplished only to the extent that the true nature of God and His perfect spiritual creation is understood.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

The anonymous writer of the letter on "Faith as a Cure,"...

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access