Article December 27, 1919 Issue

The kindly attitude of a former clergyman of your city...

Robert G. Steel—St. Johns, Mich.

Clinton Republican

The kindly attitude of a former clergyman of your city toward Christian Science, as evidenced by his remarks in a recent sermon and quoted in a late issue from a Cleveland newspaper, is appreciated by Christian Scientists. They are grateful also for the public recognition which he made of the benefits of Christian Science practice. A better understanding of the teachings of Christian Science, however, would have saved him from the error of confusing psychotherapy with Christian Science, for one is the very antithesis of the other.

Psychotherapy, as generally understood, depends entirely on mental suggestion, which includes the kindred evils of hypnotism, mesmerism, and so forth. Now, mental suggestion is wholly the attribute of the fleshly, material, mortal, or carnal mind. Since this mind is, as Paul declared, "enmity against God," divine Mind or infinite good, evil in all its phases must be its product, and the good which seems to emanate from it is relative only. Psychotherapy is based on the erroneous premise of omnipotent mortal mind, alias mortal man. Its modus is thus wholly material.

Christian Science, on the other hand, founding its teachings on the Bible, begins with omnipotent God, divine Mind, as its sole basis of theory and practice. It is thus in strict accord with the precepts and example of Christ Jesus, and its method is wholly spiritual. Its divine metaphysics in its successful mission of healing the sick, regenerating the sinning, and casting out evil, is precisely that employed by the Master in the first century and by his followers for nearly three hundred years after the crucifixion.

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