Article October 30, 1915 Issue

If critics of Christian Science who are fond of repeating...

Harry I. Hunt

Newark (N. J.) News

If critics of Christian Science who are fond of repeating that it is a mingling of idealism and pantheism would only study its text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, they would save themselves from the charge of not knowing what they are talking about, for it may be said that there is no ground for such a statement. Christians will admit readily enough that the only true idealism is that preached by Jesus the Christ, the ultimate attainment of which is foreshadowed by St. John. That is the idealism of Christian Science, and it is about as far removed from pantheism as the east is from the west. Yet the world in general, and the theological world in particular, is slow to admit that the idealism of Jesus is practical, in spite of his positive declaration, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." "Pantheism," Mrs. Eddy writes on page 129 of Science and Health, "may be defined as a belief in the intelligence of matter,—a belief which Science overthrows." Any belief that God lives in matter has no place in the teachings of this Science.

Christian Science does not deify Jesus, but distinguishes clearly between the man "in all points tempted like as we are" and his Messianic title and office. In so doing Christian Science accepts the record of the Scriptures, showing that Jesus never said he was God, that he spoke of himself as a man, that several of his sayings are contradictory of the theory that he was God, and that twice he virtually denied he was God. Certainly the disciples did not regard Jesus as Deity, for Peter, when addressing the company of believers at Jerusalem after Jesus had passed beyond the range of human sight, spoke of "Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God," throughout the address referring to the Master as distinct from God.

It should be noted also that Christian Science accepts the Scriptural account of Jesus' origin, to which reference is made in Science and Health on pages 315, 332, and 539, on the last named of which we find this statement: "The divineorigin of Jesus gave him more than human power to expound the facts of creation, and demonstrate the one Mind which makes and governs man and the universe." Jesus was aware of whence he came, for he said, "I proceeded forth and came from God," and so declared his spiritual origin. We need to know what he was and to know that his work for mankind was spiritually natural, in order to perceive the way of salvation which he showed—the "new and living way," "the way of truth."

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors