Editorial November 27, 1915 Issue

Faith Not Credulity

Annie M. Knott

There are perhaps not many who take the trouble to discriminate between faith and mere credulity, which is defined as "a disposition to believe on slight evidence." Many people who ought to know better speak of faith, especially when it is of the active kind, in a sort of apologetic if not a condemnatory way, and yet the Bible tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. To the Christian Scientist this does not mean a theoretical belief about God and His Christ, but rather a firm conviction that "with God" all good is possible, and that to prove this, unwavering reliance upon divine Principle is required. The possibilities of good as the activity of divine Mind are being proved today through Christian Science as they have not been since the days of Christ Jesus, and it rests with all who profess to be his followers to give the proofs which he required in saying, "When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?"

When Mrs. Eddy says (Science and Health, p. 430), "Faith should enlarge its borders and strengthen its base by resting upon Spirit instead of matter," she shows us how to distinguish between faith and credulity. The latter places its dependence upon material evidence, and when it meets with constant disappointments, as it must, it becomes cynical and rejects without any sound reason whatever points away from the beaten path of mortal experience. As of old mortals cry out, "Who will show us any good?" and then turn away without investigation from that which at least promises to lighten the burdens of humanity. The writer well remembers the slighting manner in which a great English newspaper, a good many years ago, referred to the telephone as a possible public servant, saying that it would never be more than a toy. It is not only interesting but helpful to observe how we ourselves and others are disposed to be stupidly credulous or as stupidly incredulous when we ought to test by reason and revelation whatever is presented as a new idea.

To the student of Christian Science the sixteenth chapter of Mark's gospel is a wonderful record of the triumph of the faith which rests upon spiritual facts. The thrilling story of the resurrection is told in words that should touch every heart, for no one lives in the truest sense until he has made their promise his very own. We are told that when Mary Magdalene, who had been healed by Jesus, carried the glad tidings of his resurrection to the mourning disciples, they "believed not." The testimony of two others who had seen the risen Master was likewise rejected. Credulity was not equal to this occasion, and the apostles' dawning faith had seemingly "fallen asleep." Mortal sense was loudly clamoring, "Believe no more," yet the destinies of the race were hanging upon that hour. Then, as with the quickening tones of the archangel's trump, came the words of the Master himself as he stood beside the eleven and reproached them for their hardness of heart, "because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen." Had not all his healing work led thought up to the point of acceptance of Mary's story? Had he not told them that he would pass unharmed through the awful experience of the crucifixion and appear to them on the third day, and had they not seen him disprove the reality of death in the case of the widow's son, of Jairus' daughter, and more wonderful still in calling Lazarus from the tomb where he had lain four days?

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