Article April 24, 1915 Issue

In a recent issue of the National Sunday Magazine, in an...

Robert S. Ross

Buffalo (N. Y.) Express

In a recent issue of the National Sunday Magazine, in an article by a medical doctor entitled "Call the Mind Doctor," I find a statement concerning Christian Science. This critic asserts that he has discovered three laws, each dealing wholly with the operations of the human mind, and that these "are the basis of every system of mind-cure, prayer-cure, and faith-cure. They underlie all psychotherapy. They give whatever success is achieved by Christian Scientists, 'new thought' healers, and similar cults."

With the reference to mind, prayer, faith, and "new thought" methods I have no statement to make. With the reference to Christian Science I desire to point out that the doctor is completely mistaken, presumably through ignorance of the subject itself. At no point and in no way does Christian Science depend upon the human mind for its results in the healing of sin and sickness; in no way does it operate through what is known as faith-cure, and it has not the slightest alliance with psychotherapeutics, mental suggestion, or any similar material mental methods whatever. The doctor enumerates his "laws" as the ability to replace one train of thought by another, and by other similar devices.

Christian Science depends wholly for its action upon the healing effect of the divine Mind. It places no reliance upon material methods of any sort, but declares these to be absolutely at variance with everything it stands for in the line of the spiritual treatment of both sin and disease. In support of this statement I quote directly from the authorized text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy. In this volume will be found the only accurate and authorized teachings of the religion that fulfills the twin commands of Jesus of Nazareth to preach the gospel and heal the sick. In the Preface (p. xi) will be found this statement: "The physical healing of Christian Science results now, as in Jesus' time, from the operation of divine Principle, before which sin and disease lose their reality in human consciousness and disappear as naturally and as necessarily as darkness gives place to light and sin to reformation. Now, as then, these mighty works are not supernatural, but supremely natural. They are the sign of Immanuel, or 'God with us,'—a divine influence ever present in human consciousness and repeating itself, coming now as was promised aforetime.

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