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[Translated from the German]
"Blessed are the poor in spirit"
The modern thinker often fails to find an interest in religious questions, as a result of having grown up with a strong prejudice against everything which cannot be cognized by the physical senses and grasped by the human intellect. His strongest argument against religion is that it requires blind faith. He is striving after mental freedom, and as a proof that religion imposes restrictions upon the mind, he quotes the Master's words, "Blessed are the poor in spirit."
Christian Science has completely refuted the argument that religion and reason are incompatible, and furthermore has proved that religion, in order to be religion at all, must be founded upon Truth, upon eternal, immutable law, the knowledge of which constitutes science, the only science there is or can be; for in the last analysis Truth and its laws alone, the facts of being, can be considered science or true knowledge. That Jesus in saying "Blessed are the poor in spirit" could not have meant that dulness and ignorance lead unto salvation, is clearly evidenced by the fact that he made the salvation of mankind dependent on knowledge of the truth. "Ye shall know the truth, he said, "and the truth shall make you free." Knowledge of the truth results in mental emancipation, and therefore is the exact opposite of ignorance and narrowness of mind. When Jesus spoke of the "poor in spirit," he cannot possibly have meant people whose thought was narrowly circumscribed.

August 14, 1915 issue
View Issue-
Love's Sure Reward
ROBERT NALL
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Spiritual Manifestation
GRACE SQUIRES
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The Lesson-Sermon
KATE HOLT
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"Blessed are the poor in spirit"
KATE WEBER
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Love's Ministry
OLIVER M. CUNNINGHAM
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Glory of Reflection
J. LILIAN VANDEVERE
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Guidance
FRANCES THOMPSON HILL
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The fact that a clergyman would not allow a lecture on...
Judge Clifford P. Smith
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Our critic says the doctrines of Christian Science "should...
Walter S. Cross
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In the report of a lecture at Leigh on "Miracles," which...
Harold Priestman
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"I will trust in thee"
Archibald McLellan
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A Peculiar People
John B. Willis
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Elemental Thought
Annie M. Knott
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The Lectures
with contributions from J. W. Norvell, Albert E. Barnard, O. C. Soots, Benjamin Eitlegeorge, George Shaw Cook, W. E. Kinney, James P. Eilenberger, Alex Berg, W. S. Raeder
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A sense of deep gratitude prompts me to tell of the blessings...
Florence G. Peach
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During November, 1902, while residing in a small town in...
C. V. McMannamy
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I am deeply grateful for the many blessings that I have...
Katherine Lovelace Draper
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To say I am thankful for the blessings which Christian Science...
Laura Hanks with contributions from Charles E. Hanks, Jr.
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I herewith wish to give my thank-offerings for the help...
Mathilde Matthiesen Kullrich
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I am deeply grateful for all that Christian Science has...
Florence Spellman
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From Our Exchanges
with contributions from John Reid Shannon