Article January 5, 1918 Issue

The statement which appeared in a recent issue to the...

Aaron E. Brandt

Altoona (Pa.) Mirror

The statement which appeared in a recent issue to the effect that Christian Science is close kin to theosophy and that much of the latter was copied from Mrs. Eddy, although made by an evangelist, is not true by any means. None of the varying teachings of theosophy, from its earliest tracing as found in the Sanskrit Upanishads to the most modern work on the subject, agree with Christian Science; therefore they could not have been borrowed from Mrs. Eddy, as alleged. Certain phrases and sentences may seem similar to the uninformed, but their meaning is very different. God is said to be infinite and absolute, according to theosophic teaching, but He is also said to be the source of both matter and spirit, which is quite contrary to Christian Science. Again, spirit is said to "evolve into matter, and matter to evolve the spirit." Christian Science, on the other hand, teaches that God, Spirit, is All-in-all, and that matter consists merely of human concepts, so devoid of intelligence, so unstable in character, and so totally wanting in spiritual qualities, that it could not have been evolved from an unchangeable, intelligent, spiritual source, and must therefore be unreal.

Many other differences could be noted. The best authority on the subject says that there is no identity, nor even similarity, between Christian Science and theosophy. This variance does not, however, give Christian Scientists a desire either to harm the theosophists or to misrepresent their teaching, and the tolerant spirit of the latter toward others, particularly noted in a recent event when they refused to join clergymen in a crusade of misrepresentation against Christian Science and its Founder, might well be emulated by all clergymen.

When our critic further alludes to Christian Science as being kin to paganism, it should be remembered that Christian Science fulfills the command of the Founder of Christianity not only to preach the gospel but to heal the sick, and thus proves its Christianity by its works. The time has gone by when clergymen can attack Christian Science without belittling their own standing as Christian exemplars.

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