Article February 11, 1922 Issue

Christian Science is like all science

John W. Harwood—Morecambe, Eng.

The Visitor

Christian Science is like all science. It cannot be understood by a single perusal of a lecture, which can only touch on a subject of such magnitude. It is not claimed that this is the best defined and clearest form in which the subject can be presented. This is found in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. That there is justification for its title is acknowledged by your correspondent. He agrees that the first part deals with elementary theological truths, which have been accepted for ages. To that extent, then, it is Christian. All that is claimed by Christian Science is that it is just a reiteration of Jesus' teaching. It teaches that God is just what the Scriptures declare—All-in-all, all good, all Life, Truth, Love, all intelligence, Spirit, Mind, omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience.

These definitions of the nature of Deity have certainly been accepted theoretically by most Christians, but absolutely rejected in practice. Christian Science is Science because it draws logical conclusions from these statements, and is provable. Before Christian Science showed us differently, did not we say with our lips that God is almighty, and in our hearts give more power and reality to evil? Did we not say that God is Spirit, the only creator, and then believe that He created all things materially? How could we hope to escape from material troubles, sin, disease, and all that flesh is heir to, if we believed that they were a part of God's creation? Jesus proved that matter, or material forces, were not in accordance with God's law, and therefore not real; for he annulled them by walking on the water, stilling the storm, destroying sin, healing disease, raising the dead, and eliminating time and space.

Although your correspondent says that the old theology has not taught a corporeal God, I think most people will agree that many denominations base their teachings on an anthropomorphic God, even believing that Jesus was God. Christian Science does not teach that man is God, but that he is even what the Scriptures declare—the image and likeness of God. The claim of Jesus to be one with the Father did not prevent him from praying to God. His thoughts or prayers made him one with the Father. If God is Mind, then all thoughts which are good and real must have their origin in Him. Just in proportion to the acceptance and the entertaining of God's thoughts man is at one with Him, and is the expressed image and likeness. Do not these thoughts of God make omnipotence available? Christian Science is proving that this power is present, and enables us to meet all the claims of evil with the assurance of victory.

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