Article May 11, 1918 Issue

Christian Science does not condemn the medical profession

Willard J. Welch

Burlington (Iowa) Hawk-Eye

Christian Science does not condemn the medical profession. Mrs. Eddy tells us on page 444 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," the Christian Science textbook: "Students are advised by the author to be charitable and kind, not only towards differing forms of religion and medicine, but to those who hold these differing opinions. Let us be faithful in pointing the way through Christ, as we understand it, but let us also be careful always to 'judge righteous judgment,' and never to condemn rashly." The Christian Science Monitor purposes, as stated by its Founder, Mrs. Eddy, in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany," on page 353, "to injure no man, but to bless all mankind." It attacks no man nor any man's belief. It is an imposition on the public to imply that articles in the Monitor upholding medical freedom are attacks on the medical profession. The Monitor stands for the rights of the individual against every form of tyranny, autocracy, plutocracy, or any other curtailment of a man's freedom so long as it does not interfere with the rights of others. The articles mentioned by a correspondent are all exposés of the tendency of organized medicine to force upon individuals through legislation or otherwise the dogmas and practices of one school of medicine to the exclusion of all others. This attitude of protest is shared by thousands of thinking people who know nothing of Christian Science, but who do know that "eternal vigilance" is the price of liberty in every walk of life.

The Monitor deplores and condemns the monopolistic ideas of self-interest and greed, all abuses of power through coercion, whether social, legal, or medical. It calls attention to the present danger in this direction not only in medicine but in the industries and in politics. It does all this in the interest of no one special class or sect, but for the welfare of all mankind. Far from attacking anyone or anything, Christian Scientists look for and expect to find "sermons in stones, and good in every thing." They credit the medical profession with what good it has done. They rejoice in all good. There is neither justice nor wisdom in wholesale condemnation of a system still helpful to and desired by a large proportion of humanity. Christian Scientists do not believe in the methods of the medical profession, but they extend to all men the same freedom of thought they ask for themselves. In knowing they have a better way, they still gladly recognize the right of others to any system of healing they desire. Christian Scientists are not obstructionists, but constructionists. They are not visionists, in the sense of dreamers, but practics, and point to their works, saying with the Master, "Though ye believe not me, believe the works."

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Christian Science does not condemn the medical profession

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access