Article May 8, 1915 Issue

In The Oregonian of recent date a writer makes a very...

F. Elmo Robinson—Portland, Ore.

The Oregonian

In The Oregonian of recent date a writer makes a very misleading reference to Christian Science. Our friend conveys the impression that Christian Science teaches us to ignore "warfare, crime, poverty, and suffering" because they are declared by this Science to be unreal. The word unreality, as used in Christian Science, has reference to that which is not God-created. The Scriptures teach that God made all things good, and further, that he is "of purer eyes than to behold evil," and cannot "look on iniquity." From the divine standpoint, therefore, all forms and phases of human discord are unreal, even as from the standpoint of the science of numbers the statement that two and two make five is non-existent—unreal. The mathematician progresses not by ignoring his mistakes, but by correcting them, and a clear perception of the truth is the means by which they are corrected. Christian Scientists do not ignore evil and discordant human conditions, but they endeavor to correct them by knowing the truth about God, and man in His image and likeness.

In regard to the question of war, the Christian Scientist's attitude is well expressed by Mrs. Eddy. She says: "For many years I have prayed daily that there by no more war, no more barbarous slaughtering of our fellow-beings; prayed that all the peoples on earth and the islands of the sea have one God, one Mind; love God supremely, and love their neighbor as themselves" (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 286). Again, onpage 279 of the same book she says: "God is Father, infinite, and this great truth, when understood in its divine metaphysics, will establish the brotherhood of man, end wars, and demonstrate 'on earth peace, good will toward men.' "

From what has been set forth in this article concerning God and His creation, it may be seen that Christian Science teaches that "God's will" is always good; that He never wills nor sends evil or suffering upon any living creature. On page 140 of Science and Health we read: "The Christian Science God is universal, eternal, divine Love, which changeth not and causeth no evil, disease, nor death."

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