Article October 4, 1924 Issue

Christian Scientists are fond of quoting Scripture because...

Stanley M. Sydenham—Bradford

Observer

Christian Scientists are fond of quoting Scripture because the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, has enabled them to understand the Bible better than they ever did before. Christian Scientists agree with regard to the gospels that "one only of the various doctrines built upon or elucidated from them is the best and highest." That doctrine is the one that makes possible the highest degree of demonstration over the beliefs of sin, disease, and death. The tree is known by its fruits. Paul defined "material" and "spiritual" in his statement, "The things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." Christian Scientists accept this definition, declaring that everything humanly perceived is temporal, and that what is spiritually discerned is eternal. Christ Jesus said, "Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink." From this it may be gathered that he did not encourage the study of food values. What a man thinks is more important than what he eats. The reason why any one would "promptly contract either a cold in the head, or boils, or sciatica" if he ate bread, sugar, or polished rice, would be due to his belief that he would do so. Thus he would confirm in his own experience the Bible statement, "As he thinketh in his heart, so is he." The same food may have a different effect on two individuals, proving that the difference is not in the food but in the individual belief. Disease is not "all accident." It is the result of conscious or unconscious violation of the laws of God. It is disobedience to the command, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Christian Science does not single out pain or disease only, but maintains that a right understanding of God is equal to the healing of every inharmonious condition, mental, mortal, or physical.