Article April 8, 1922 Issue

In an article bearing upon Christian Science, a critic...

V. M. B. Stievenard

West Herts Post and Watford (England) Newsletter

In an article bearing upon Christian Science, a critic takes exception to the basic propositions in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 113), of God's allness, God's omnipotent goodness, that God is Spirit and Mind, because, when worked out to their logical issue, they show the nothingness of matter and evil; and yet the Bible declares these truths. Christ Jesus taught, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." In all its supposed qualities and attributes, matter is the opposite to Spirit, and those who turn away from it turn away from pantheism, or the belief that the infinite can be expressed through the finite, and accept the spiritual sense of life, wherein the universe is eternally the reflection of the infinite. Mrs. Eddy also says: "God is Love. He is therefore the divine, infinite Principle, called Person or God" (Science and Health, p. 302). And on page 116, "If the term personality, as applied to God, means infinite personality, then God is infinite Person,—in the sense of infinite personality, but not in the lower sense."

Prayer in accordance with the instructions given by her, in the chapter in Science and Health entitled "Prayer," can be proved of that efficacious nature of which James speaks when he says, "The prayer of faith shall save the sick." Contrary to the critic's own experience, many thousands have proved that her scientific interpretation of the Lord's Prayer uplifts, purifies, and heals.

With regard to what this writer calls "the great fact of sin," Christian Science teaching, in line with the Bible, claims God as the only creator of the universe. Also, it accepts the obvious fact that the same fountain cannot send forth both sweet water and bitter. Sin therefore is not of God, but partakes of the nature described in Isaiah, as a "thick cloud." "I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins." The nature of a cloud is rather that of a dark shadow hiding the sun, than that of a great fact. Nevertheless, on page 339 of Science and Health we read, "Only those, who repent of sin and forsake the unreal, can fully understand the unreality of evil." Moreover, Christian Scientists do accept Christ as their Savior from sin, sickness, and death. In a poem written by Mrs. Eddy (Poems, p. 75) will be found these words:—

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