Article December 8, 1917 Issue

There seems to be an almost irresistible tendency in some...

Peter V. Ross

Berkeley (Cal.) Gazette

There seems to be an almost irresistible tendency in some quarters to refer to Christian Science in such a way as to intimate that it is not truly scientific, and to try to confuse it with suggestion, hypnotism, and other questionable mental practices. Intimations of this sort occasionally come even from writers and speakers who apparently are disposed to be fair and impartial. It is therefore not surprising that the lecturer whose discourse on the relation of alcoholism to crime appeared in the Gazette, should, in digressing from his subject, have said: "I hope I am broad-minded enough to admit good in the upbuilding influence of so-called Christian Science, for I have in mind several royal fellows who have been led into correct ways of thinking through suggestion and mental science."

The human mind has ever been disinclined to concede that Christianity is scientific. Even when Jesus was performing the cures which have been the hope of humanity as well as the wonder of the world, the Pharisees declared, "He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils." Discerning the real significance of the Master's ministry, Mrs. Eddy has stated, and her statements are fast being accepted to-day as the truth, "Jesus of Nazareth was the most scientific man that ever trod the globe. He plunged beneath the material surface of things, and found the spiritual cause;" and again, "If Christianity is not scientific, and Science is not of God, then there is no invariable law, and truth becomes an accident" (Science and Health, pp. 313, 342).

Probably no one at this date would accuse Jesus of having invoked suggestion, hypnotism, legerdemain, or any other occult power. Rather it is becoming more and more apparent to thinking people that the Master, in healing the sick and setting at naught supposed material laws, was invoking and putting into practice an ever present, ever operative, and all-powerful spiritual law, which if not apparent to others of his time was fully understood and utilized by himself. More than this, it is now dawning upon human thought, through the study of Christian Science, that this law is available to all persons and at all times, in accordance with the Nazarene's statements, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also;" and "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." It is the privilege of every one to accept and prove this, or to doubt and reject it; but neither rejection nor acceptance will alter the established fact that Christianity is scientific, and that Mrs. Eddy was perfectly accurate in the use of language when she styled her discovery Christian Science.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

There seems to be an almost irresistible tendency in some...

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access