Article May 6, 1916 Issue

A reverend critic of Christian Science attempts to prove...

J. Arnold Haughton

Rochdale (England) Times

A reverend critic of Christian Science attempts to prove that the way to heaven is to feel wicked, and in the process quarrels with Christian Scientists for feeling "very good." Let it be added that Christian Scientists only "feel very good" when they have become good by doing good, and this is their foretaste of heaven. "The Scientists' way to heaven," he says, "is to feel very good. The Bible inculcates the opposite." Then immediately following is the remarkable statement, "This is my reason for calling the system antichristian."

The Christian Scientists' claim to perfectibility is based upon Jesus' command, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Either Jesus gave a command impossible of fulfilment, or our critic is wrong when he says "the Bible does not teach that people can absolutely cease to sin in this world." It is probable our friend has become involved in this logical debacle by a confusion of ideas consequent upon his lack of understanding of the teaching of Christian Science as to the distinction between mortal belief and immortal man. The quotations given, such as Job's "Behold, I am vile," must of necessity refer to a mortal, and not to immortal man made in the image and likeness of God; and this view of mortal man's depravity is emphasized in Christian Science.

The reverend gentleman's disclaimer that he called Science and Health "blasphemous" is noted with pleasure. Notwithstanding his otherwise unabated disparagement of Science and Health, the fact remains that this book has caused the Bible to be more faithfully read and better understood by an ever-increasing class of intelligent people. If in his opinion "the master offense" of Christian Scientists is that they do not adopt the ways and means of materia medica for the healing of the sick, it is pertinent to ask him as a minister of the gospel whether Jesus in his healing ministry employed drugs or instructed his followers to use them. He included within the mission of his followers the healing of sickness as well as the saving from sin, and his statement was, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also."

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