Article February 10, 1923 Issue

Christian Science in its textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures"...

Willard J. Welch, Committee on Publication for the State of Iowa,

Burlington Gazette

Christian Science in its textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, does teach that sickness is "a mere seeming," maybe a terrifying illusion, apparently only too real to the five physical senses, but unreal and illusionary to spiritual sense, by which the pure in heart see God, that is, good, instead of the evil seemingly manifested through materiality. Mrs. Eddy says on page 226 of the Christian Science textbook: "I saw before me the sick, wearing out years of servitude to an unreal master in the belief that the body governed them, rather than Mind. The lame, the deaf, the dumb, the blind, the sick, the sensual, the sinner, I wished to save from the slavery of their own beliefs and from the educational systems of the Pharaohs, who to-day, as of yore, hold the children of Israel in bondage." Briefly, the sick and sinful testimony of the physical senses is foolishness with God, and ought to be foolishness to all men. Those who do see it as foolishness, unreality, by turning to God, Spirit, in availing prayer, are healed. Poverty, greed, hatred, fear, pain, drunkenness, immorality, chronic disease, mental and physical agony, are daily being destroyed by the application of the rules of Christian Science to the needs of mankind.

The omnipotence of God, and hence the impotence and unreality of all the works of the devil [evil], including disease, is the basis of this divine healing. No man can destroy reality. Reality is God's creation, of which John says in sublime simplicity, "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." If God made disease it would be a sin to destroy it; if He did not make it, it is an error to believe in it. Did God, who is Love, make torture for His children and then have to send the only-begotten to destroy his Father's handiwork? In conclusion, let me quote from page 230 of Science and Health: "If sickness is real, it belongs to immortality; if true, it is a part of Truth. Would you attempt with drugs, or without, to destroy a quality or condition of Truth? But if sickness and sin are illusions, the awakening from this mortal dream, or illusion, will bring us into health, holiness, and immortality. This awakening is the forever coming of Christ, the advanced appearing of Truth, which casts out error and heals the sick. This is the salvation which comes through God, the divine Principle, Love, as demonstrated by Jesus."

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