Article October 2, 1915 Issue

The misrepresentation of the teaching of Christian Science...

F. Elmo Robinson—Portland, Ore.

The Oregonian

The misrepresentation of the teaching of Christian Science concerning evil has been so frequently corrected through the public press that it seems almost anomalous for an intelligent speaker at this time to reiterate the charge contained in a sermon which appeared recently in The Oregonian. Christian Science is therein pointed out as one of three delusions offered as remedies for man's unhappiness. In order even to seem to establish his claim that Christian Science is a delusion, the critic has found it necessary to misrepresent its teachings.

Any one who will take the pains to read, with a reasonable degree of fairness, the Christian Science text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, can readily discover that Christian Science does not teach us to ignore sin, pain, or anxiety. On the contrary, Christian Science teaches that these conditions are experiences of the carnal or mortal mind, and that they may be overcome by letting that Mind be in us "which was also in Christ Jesus." Ignorance is not overcome by ignoring it, but by gaining knowledge; nor is evil overcome by ignoring it, but by letting the supremacy of good be made manifest in our thinking and in our conduct. Evil only maintains a semblance of reality by appearing in the guise of good. Just as long as mortals believe in evil as something, as having power to give pleasure or satisfaction, they will love it and indulge it. When evil is recognized as inherently powerless, it will cease to attract; hence as its nothingness becomes apparent, it will disappear from human consciousness. Since the Master said, "None is good, save one, that is, God," and since that one is infinite, the claim of any good apart from God is false. Christian Science teaches God's allness, His infinitude; and it is the analysis of evil in the light of this teaching, and not the ignoring of it, which overcomes it.

No one better understands than the genuine Christian Scientist that a "godly life" is the only road to happiness. More than this, Christian Science is showing him exactly how to live this godly life.

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