Article February 3, 1917 Issue

In his sermon an evangelist is quoted as saying, "Sin is...

Robert S. Ross—Gloversville, N. Y.

The Herald

In his sermon an evangelist is quoted as saying, "Sin is here, and there is only one class of people that deny it—the Christian Scientists." Replying thereto, permit me to ask the good preacher how evil can really be anywhere if God, good, is everywhere present? This is a question worthy to be pondered by those who profess to worship one omnipresent and omnipotent God.

Christian Science certainly does not deny that both sin and sickness seem real to erring human experience, but it does deny the reality of sin and sickness in the sense that God is not the author of these errors. If sin and sickness are real,—that is, eternal,—they are as indestructible as God. All attempts to overcome them would therefore be not only unavailing, but actually contrary to God's will. Christ Jesus came to do the will of God; he overcame all manner of sin and sickness through his understanding of God's allness.

On page 230 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy writes: "Good is not, cannot be, the author of experimental sins. God, good, can no more produce sickness than goodness can cause evil and health occasion disease." Does not the Bible tell us that God is "of purer eyes than to behold evil" and that He cannot "look on iniquity"? Surely the creator is ready to recognize that which He creates! Mortals are attracted by sin and are subject to sickness because of their belief in the reality of a power apart from God, good; and both sin and sickness will diminish in the exact proportion that this false belief diminishes.

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