Article December 9, 1922 Issue

Material man is neither real nor eternal, since he is not...

Robert G. Steel, Committee on Publication for the State of Michigan,

Detroit News

Material man is neither real nor eternal, since he is not of God's creating. The Bible teaches that man is created in God's image and likeness; and, since God is Spirit, the real man must be spiritual. Since God's image and likeness necessarily reflects all that God is, this real man must and does reflect the Life that is God, and is, therefore, coeternal with his Maker. Evil, in whatever phase it seems to present itself, has no power to destroy the real, spiritual man. The Bible tells us that "the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death;" and we overcome death in proportion to our apprehension of God as Spirit, and of the real man in God's image and spiritual likeness. This, also, is the teaching of Christian Science.

In attributing the successful healing and regenerative works of Christian Science to mental suggestion, our critic has but followed in the footsteps of the materialists of all ages. Baal of the Phœnicians of ancient times and Beelzebub of the Pharisees of Jesus' day have their counterpart in what in this age is termed mental suggestion. Only on such a material basis can those who do not understand the spiritual significance of the Scriptures account for the mighty works which were done by the prophets, by Christ Jesus, and in this day and age by Christian Scientists. Christian Science and mental suggestion are antithetical. Mental suggestion is peculiarly a process of the mortal, fleshly, carnal mind, the mind which Paul declares "is enmity against God." Its product, therefore, is and must be evil, and its modus wholly material.

Christian Science bases its teaching on the Bible; and begins with omnipotent, omnipresent God 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 Christian and wholly spiritual. Its divine metaphysics is precisely that employed by the Master, and by his followers for about three hundred years after the crucifixion. Jesus said, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also." Mrs. Eddy says of it on page 98 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures": "Beyond the frail premises of human beliefs, above the loosening grasp of creeds, the demonstration of Christian Mind-healing stands a revealed and practical Science. It is imperious throughout all ages as Christ's revelation of Truth, of Life, and of Love, which remains inviolate for every man to understand and to practise."

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