Article November 11, 1916 Issue

Christian Science teaches, in agreement with the statement...

F. Elmo Robinson

Portland (Ore.) Telegram

Christian Science teaches, in agreement with the statement of the Master, that God is Spirit, and, in agreement with the statement of John, that God is Love; that He is infinite, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. Therefore to Christian Scientists a finite God, or a God who is but a magnified mortal, is inconceivable. Christian Science does not teach that God is "a being," but rather that God is infinite Being; not "a principle," but infinite Principle. The word "Principle" used in Christian Science as a synonym for God presents to Christian Scientists the idea of the changeless nature of God; presents the thought of God as the source, the basis and cause of all real being.

This being the teaching of Christian Science concerning God, and man being the image and likeness of God, compels Christian Scientists to think differently of man than they were accustomed to think prior to their study of Christian Science. Man then in the highest and truest sense, according to the teachings of Christian Science, is not mortal or material, is not a complex material organism with a soul inside of his material body, but is rather the image and likeness of God, Spirit, and therefore must be spiritual, perfect, harmonious, and indestructible. This man never is "drunk," never is "unconscious" or "insane." Drunkenness and insanity, and all other phases of evil and discord, are elements of the belief that man is mortal and material, subject to laws of sin, disease, and death. These discordant conditions disappear from human consciousness as the Christ, Truth, appears,—as we come to an understanding of God and of man as His image and likeness. This has been and is being proved in the case of multitudes of hopeless sufferers who have turned as a last resort to Christian Science and been healed and reformed.

The critic refers to the Christian Science text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, as "rehashed Buddhism." Now, he may or may not understand the teachings of Buddhism, but it is very certain that he does not understand the teachings of Christian Science or he would not have confounded the two. His statement, "Christian Science says that all things that have life are a part of Mind (God) and at what is commonly called death the life returns to Life," used to prove that Christian Science is "rehashed Buddhism," is emphatically what Christian Science does not teach. Mrs. Eddy says (Science and Health, p. 259), "Man is not absorbed in Deity, and man cannot lose his individuality, for he reflects eternal Life." To explain the relationship between God and man Mrs. Eddy makes frequent use of the term "reflection." A "reflection" is not, and never can be, a part of that which it reflects. A thoughtful consideration of this important distinction settles the question of there being any kinship between Christian Science and Buddhism.

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