Editorial October 13, 1917 Issue

Christian Science not Debatable

William D. McCrackan

The association of the word Science with Christianity produces surprise when first heard. The general assumption seems to be that Christianity is a matter of faith and faith an uncertain and more or less optional condition of mind, which may or may not correspond with the facts of being. Therefore when Mrs. Eddy first enunciated the fact that Christianity is scientific and not really subject to blind belief at all, she startled the thinkers who were willing to listen to doubtless giving many an earnest seeker after truth a first ray of genuine hope. Still the habit of treating theology as a belief instead of as a science persists among mortals, largely because a belief makes small demands upon life and conduct, while science, being accurate, must be obeyed if it is to be applied at all.

A science is not debatable, that is, it is not open to question. It must be unimpeachable in order to be science at all. A debate as generally organized is an oratorical contest in which an affirmative declaration is made and maintained by one side and disputed by the other. Such an affirmative declaration invites debate, and this virtually admits that there is a negative side. On the other hand, in the science of mathematics the multiplication table is not debatable because it is scientific, that is, it is based on accurate, ascertained knowledge. This is the nature of Christian Science. It may prove unacceptable to those who are indulging in certain habits of thought, but its teachings cannot be successfully disputed, and the attempt to do so should not even be made. It is founded upon spiritual forces which silence all argument antagonistic to Truth. The demonstration of the healing of the sick and the saving of the sinner by Christian Science answers the would-be debater with irrefutable facts, proving this Science as true to-day as it was when Jesus cited his works to the disciples of John the Baptist in proof of his Messiahship.

It is not without reason that the Church Manual of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, contains the following by-law: "A member of this Church shall not debate on Christian Science in public debating assemblies, without the consent of the Board of Directors" (Art. X, Sect. 1). On page 1 of "Rudimental Divine Science," in answer to the question, "How would you define Christian Science?" Mrs. Eddy says, "As the law of God, the law of good, interpreting and demonstrating the divine Principle and rule of universal harmony." Evidently "the law of God" cannot be debated, and to attempt to dispute it would be courting inevitable disaster.

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