Article September 11, 1915 Issue

Now that the discussion of Christian Science by Doctor...

Avery Coonley—Chicago, Ill.

B'nai B'rith News

Now that the discussion of Christian Science by Doctor—,under the caption "Jews and Christian Science," which began in the January issue, has been brought to a close, I should appreciate an opportunity to point out some of the misapprehensions regarding the religion under consideration which are created by the article. It is not my purpose to enter into the question at issue.

I have no hesitation in denying the charge that the members of the Jewish faith who have joined the Christian Science church have been induced to do so by misrepresentation and falsification. While no religion can control or speak for the acts of all its adherents, such methods are opposed to both the teaching and the practice of Christian Science. Dishonesty is bad, and were it practised by Christian Scientists, as is intimated, it would have exactly the opposite result from that attributed to it, and instead of attracting people to Christian Science, would have wrecked the movement. Nor are persons hurried into membership in the Christian Science church. On the contrary, applicants are not accepted until they have shown an adequate understanding and a reason for the hope that is in them. It may be safely assumed that those who have adopted Christian Science have done so for what they find it to be, not on the basis of false representation.

It would be readily conceded by any Christian Scientist that if this religion were in fact what the doctor conceives it to be, it would have amounted to little, and certainly would not have merited the extended consideration it has had in your publication. It is a matter of regret that in discussing a religion of such notable practical achievements he should have permitted himself to ridicule some of its fundamental postulates, which he admits he does not comprehend, such as, for instance, the Christian Science definition of God. The understanding of God and man's relation to Him, derived by Mrs. Eddy from the Scriptures, is the very essence of Christian Science, and although there are those who, like our critic, have failed to find this definition intelligible, this does not warrant him in ridiculing it, since there are thousands of others who have succeeded in comprehending it, and in such a practical way that their understanding has sufficed to heal them and others of sin, sorrow, misfortune, and disease in its most malignant form.

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