Article August 9, 1919 Issue

The tolerance exhibited by "Neophyte" toward Christian Scientists...

Aaron E. Brandt

Warren (Pa.) Chronicle

The tolerance exhibited by "Neophyte" toward Christian Scientists and those of differing views, in a recent issue, is quite commendable. It is in this respect the very opposite of the spirit manifested by our clerical critic. With reference to "Neophyte's" allusions to pantheism and Buddhism, I have to say that it is impossible to read the works of Mrs. Eddy understandingly without discovering that Christian Science is the very opposite of both.

Pantheism is the belief of Spirit in matter. Christian Science teaches that matter is the supposititious opposite of Spirit; that matter is made up of finite human concepts, while divine Mind is manifested and reflected by, but not found dwelling in, spiritual ideas. "Pantheism," writes Mrs. Eddy in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 279), "starting from a material sense of God, seeks cause in effect, Principle in its idea, and life and intelligence in matter. In the infinitude of Mind, matter must be unknown."

In her Message to The Mother Church on the occasion of the June communion, 1898, where she analyzes the subject and discusses it at some length, is found the following: "The doctrines that embrace pantheism, polytheism, and paganism are admixtures of matter and Spirit, truth and error, sickness and sin, life and death. They make man the servant of matter, living by reason of it, suffering because of it, and dying in consequence of it. They constantly reiterate the belief of pantheism, that mind 'sleeps in the mineral, dreams in the animal, and wakes in man'" (Christian Science versus Pantheism, p. 8). Christian Science declares one God and His spiritual creation, and that there is no reality in aught else.

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