Article October 7, 1916 Issue

When one undertakes to show the "folly" of Christian Science,...

Thomas E. Boland

Chambersburg (Pa.) Public Opinion

When one undertakes to show the "folly" of Christian Science, he assails a religion based entirely upon the Bible. The first tenet of this faith (Science and Health, p. 497) reads, "As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life." In every service and meeting of the Christian Science church the reading of the Scriptures occupies an important part in the order of service. Jesus the Christ is accepted by this religion as the Wayshower, and all his teachings are regarded as practical now as they were by this followers when he was on earth. His declaration, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also," is not separated from his other admonitions, and constant endeavor is made to demonstrate that primitive Christian healing which occupied so large a part of Jesus' time after he began his public ministry. Therefore with this full acceptance of the teachings of the model Christian, and with this consistent effort to follow all his commands, Christian Science is certainly worthy to be classed as "Christian."

It is granted by Christians at least, that Christ Jesus healed sickness, disease, deformity, and overcame death itself, through his knowledge of God and of man in God's image. His knowledge never failed to solve the problem at hand, whether it was feeding the multitudes or stilling the winds and waves. This knowledge must have been exact, even as it was practical and instantly available; therefore it was scientific, since the definition of science is "exact knowledge." That Christian Science holds this view of Jesus is shown by the following extract from Science and Health (p. 476): "Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick." The truth set forth in Mrs. Eddy's writings has healed multitudes of sufferers from all kinds of ills; hence it must be knowledge, "exact knowledge" of God and man, therefore "science."

No support for indictments against Christian Science can be found in the pages of Science and Health when enough of the context is used to make the author's meaning clear. Sometimes critics have separated phrases or clauses from necessary contexts, and so forced apparent contradictions. Christian Science does not teach that Deity is personal in a finite sense. On page 269 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy says: "Human philosophy has made God manlike. Christian Science makes man Godlike." Personality is defined in the Standard dictionary as "conscious separate existence as an intelligent and voluntary being;" therefore if the distinguishing characteristic of personality be the quality of self-existence, then Christian Science ascribes exactly this to God, as well as all else that is perfect, immortal, and divine. This faith does not, however, teach God as person in the manner in which this word is ordinarily used when applied to human beings; in fact the words person and personality when applied to Deity frequently lead to much confusion.

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Poem
The Purer Sense
October 7, 1916
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit