Editorial October 28, 1922 Issue

Scientific Christianity

Albert F. Gilmore

Christian Science has already made great strides in demonstrating that Christianity is, first of all, scientific; that is, that its truths are exact and conform to divine law. Prior to Mrs. Eddy's great discovery, so accustomed had mankind become to regard religion as something almost if not entirely apart from scientific knowledge that it was quite ready to strenuously resent what it regarded as a presumptuous invasion of its own exclusive field of religious teaching, which, at best, it was held, is based upon faith and speculation rather than upon proved propositions. In fact, the exponents of physical science were prone to regard as an impostor any one who tried to enter the field of science except upon the basis of fact established upon their own criterions of acceptable proof; and, naturally, these exponents of material science quite scoffed at the idea of proving the tenets of any religion. To the vast majority of these savants, religion was impractical idealism, to be accepted, if at all, entirely upon faith, with no slightest possiblity of proof, either of its premises or of its conclusions.

It was into this mental condition that Mrs. Eddy projected her discovery; and that it has made its way so widely and so deeply is proof in itself that it is founded upon divine Principle, and that its laws are the laws of God. It was Stanislaus, the sage of Poland, who wisely said, "Religion has nothing more to fear than not being sufficiently understood;" and to make true religion understood, through demonstration and precept alike, has been the service rendered mankind by the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science.

The parable of the Pharisee and the publican is always before us, and the lesson is obvious. It was of the humble man who, smiting his breast and asking God to be merciful to him, "a sinner," that Christ Jesus said, "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other." And he continued the lesson with the explanation, "For every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." Under the marginal heading, "The right motive and its reward," on page 464 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy says: "In founding a pathological system of Christianity, the author has labored to expound divine Principle, and not to exalt personality. The weapons of bigotry, ignorance, envy, fall before an honest heart."

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