Article October 21, 1916 Issue

A critic said of Christian Scientists that "unless their faith...

Robert S. Ross

Buffalo (N. Y.) Express

A critic said of Christian Scientists that "unless their faith is gradually to descend into a blind, besotted fanaticism, they will see its limitations; and when they need a physician or surgeon, will send for one." If one accepts the proposition that God, good, is both omnipresent and omnipotent, one must also admit that there is never an instant when God is not available and capable of meeting every human need. Asa turned from God to medicine and died; and does not Paul assure us that "the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword"? Surely it is not "blind, besotted fanaticism" to have more and more faith in Spirit, God, and less and less in matter!

The critic says that one reason why he is not a Christian Scientist is that he cannot assent to the teaching of the unreality of matter. For the same reason he could say he is not a Christian. The teachings of Christian Science and Christianity are identical on this as on every other point. In referring to the materiality of the age, and its unreal origin, Jesus spoke of it as "a liar, and the father of it." What is the father of a liar but a lie? Reasoning in another direction, Christian Science says that God, Spirit, Mind, is the one and only creator. He made all, and it must be spiritual, not material. In each case the conclusion is the same. Matter is not, because Mind is.

If matter is proved by Christian metaphysical analysis to be unreal, any system based on this unreality must likewise be unreal. The only real science is that which interprets God, Truth. In Science and Health (p. 468) Mrs. Eddy writes: "There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter. All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all. Spirit is immortal Truth; matter is mortal error. Spirit is the real and eternal; matter is the unreal and temporal. Spirit is God, and man is His image and likeness. Therefore man is not material; he is spiritual." Contrary to the opinion of the critic, the reasoning of Christian Science is logical and irrefutable. Furthermore, Christian Science is demonstrable. These are the elements that satisfy and make the teachings of Christian Science acceptable to thinkers in all departments of human activity. Again, on page 93 of Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy says: "Divine logic and revelation coincide. If we believe otherwise, we may be sure that either our logic is at fault or that we have misinterpreted revelation."

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