Article March 20, 1920 Issue

The clergyman who has undertaken to criticize Christian Science...

Peter B. Biggins

Coronation (Alberta, Canada) Review

The clergyman who has undertaken to criticize Christian Science propounds a number of questions, many of which in the light of actual facts are merely frivolous. A good purpose may be served, however, by correcting a few of the misstatements.

Christian Science does not teach that "God is a principle." It defines Him as divine Principle, meaning by this term that God is the origin, the "First Cause," of all that really is. The term "Principle" is here used with its original meaning. Mrs. Eddy has been exceedingly careful in her application of the term "person" to God, and wisely so. The word "person," to the average individual, means a human being. Christian Science teaches that God is not a person in that sense. Another dictionary definition of person is "a self-conscious being." Christian Science teaches that God is Person in this higher sense. It clears away the mist of misunderstanding as to the personality of God.

This religion does teach that "man is incapable of sin" (Science and Health, p. 475), but by "man" is here meant the real man made in the image and likeness of God, as spoken of in the first chapter of Genesis, where we read that man was created with dominion over all. Christian Science does not teach that a mortal man is incapable of sin; on the contrary, it shows very clearly that mortals are sinners, and it gives practical instruction whereby the sinner can get rid of sin through Christ, or Truth.

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