Article May 15, 1920 Issue

In a recent issue there appeared a report of a sermon...

A. J. Chapman

New Orleans (La.) States

In a recent issue there appeared a report of a sermon delivered by a Roman Catholic priest on the subject of "Christian Science and Christian Sense," wherein he discusses the "nothingness of matter," and claims to speak with knowledge as to what Christian Science teaches on this subject. He says that of all the people on the face of the earth we, "the sensible, boastful, educated, prosperous, and successful Americans are the easiest to fool in religious matters," and then he proceeds to tell us that "of all the new forms of religion to take a firm hold on the American mind, Christian Science is the queerest of all." This is equivalent to saying that Christian Science has a firm hold on these same "sensible, boastful, educated, prosperous, and successful Americans." In this, I think, we shall have to agree with him, for Christian Science appeals to just such people.

Now, what Christian Science teaches as to the "nothingness of matter" could hardly be explained in a short letter. To the human mind, matter seems very real, yet it is a fact that the most eminent physicists of the present day are agreed that it is impossible to prove that such a thing as matter exists. The Bible informs us that "the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."

I might say that in Christian Science matter is an expression of mortal thought. The material universe is an externalization of mortal thought, or human thought objectified. Paul tells us that "the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." From this we are bound to conclude that what the human or carnal mind beholds and claims as real is material, consequently unreal from the standpoint of God, for the Scriptures affirm that God's creation is spiritual and indestructible—not material or temporal.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

In a recent issue there appeared a report of a sermon...

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access