Article October 28, 1916 Issue

The writer in the column entitled "What the Doctor...

Charles M. Shaw

Blackburn (England) Times

The writer in the column entitled "What the Doctor Says" associated Christian Science with faith-healing and mental healing, and described all these as variations of what he calls "the same fundamental principle . . . the influence of the mind, in physical matters, on the bodily functions." Will you kindly permit me to say, with all respect, that this is a mistake; but as it is a mistake which is easily fallen into by those who are not thoroughly acquainted with Christian Science, and as the subject is one of growing interest and importance, I shall be grateful for the opportunity of explaining the difference.

Speaking generally, mankind as a whole has yet to learn the baneful effects of the operations of what is described as the carnal or mortal mind. Now Christian Scientists well understand these operations, and persistently deny and reject them; and as they are more successful in their healing activities than the varying schools of mental healers, let it be conceded that they understand best the Principle and method of their work. And what are these?

Christian Science, both in its theory and in its practice, is based absolutely upon the Bible revelation that God is infinite Mind or Spirit, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. It establishes its conclusions, not upon the literal interpretation of the Scriptures, but upon the spiritual, proceeding along the line of deductive reasoning, sustained by demonstration. And it finds in the spiritual interpretation of the Bible, illustration, positive and negative, of its theory. The practice of Christian Science is the application of the fundamental truth just stated to every individual human problem, and in this way: if God is infinite Mind and man is His image and likeness, then man is an individual reflection of divine Mind or consciousness, and the realization of this, with all it involves, results in an individualization of infinite power, bringing peace, healing, and dominion into human experience. In orthodox phraseology this state is described as being filled "with the spirit of God." And the means by which this realization is achieved are those indicated by the following Scriptural terms: self-denial, self-crucifixion, new birth, putting off the old man.

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October 28, 1916
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