Article June 12, 1915 Issue

It is regrettable that any one should consider it necessary...

Charles E. Jarvis

The Tropico (Cal.) Sentinel

It is regrettable that any one should consider it necessary to go into the press to misrepresent doctrines with which he does not agree, but which are cherished by a large number of his fellow citizens. The only way in which to criticize another's theories successfully, is from the standpoint of the author. Mrs. Eddy has given us in her text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," a spiritual interpretation of the Bible which a recent critic has denounced and attempted to disprove from a purely materialistic basis. His premise being erroneous, his conclusions could not be otherwise, and it is therefore only fair to your readers to present a word of correction to some of this critic's statements.

To begin with, the reverend gentleman assures us that the doctrines of Christian Science are pantheistic. Now it is safe to assume that no one knows quite so much about the doctrines of Christian Science as its Discoverer and Founder, Mrs. Eddy, and she teels us on page 129 of the text-book above referred to, that "pantheism may be defined as a belief in the intelligence of matter,—a belief which Science overthrows;" and again, on page 279, "Pantheism, starting from a material sense of God, seeks cause in effect, Principle in its idea, and life and intelligence in matter." Lest there be any doubt on this point, permit me to refer to Mrs. Eddy's message entitled "Christian Science versus Pantheism," wherein on page 12 we find: "The Science of Christianity is strictly monotheism,—it has ONE GOD. And this divine infinite Principle, noumenon and phenomena, is demonstrably the self-existent Life, Truth, Love, substance, Spirit, Mind, which includes all that the term implies, and is all that is real and eternal."

Mrs. Eddy does not deny the existence of matter to human sense, but she most emphatically denies its ultimate reality, and in this she is sustained by many of the world's most profound physical scientists. It is generally recognized by theologians that the so-called "free will of man," or human will-power, is man's worst enemy. Passion, appetite, lust, all forms of sensuality, are but differing phases of the human will, or "carnal mind," which Paul tells us "is enmity against God," and that "to be carnally minded is death." Whenever the individual has awakened to the recognition of these evil propensities, he is usually found striving by denial to over-come them. Jesus did not rely upon his own will in order to accomplish his results. He said, "I can of mine own self do nothing;" also, "The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

It is regrettable that any one should consider it necessary...

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access