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True Transcendentalism
On page 492 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy writes, "For right reasoning there should be but one fact before the thought, namely, spiritual existence." We frequently hear the remark made that Christian Scientists are too transcendental,—meaning that they are given to a sort of daydreaming, believing in a vague something which has no real existence or reality.
Webster's dictionary defines the word "transcend" as "to rise above or beyond;" and transcendentalism as the "true knowledge of all things, ... so far as the mind is capable of knowing them." On page 301 of Science and Health, in speaking of the real man, Mrs. Eddy says: "He reflects the divine, which constitutes the only real and eternal entity. This reflection seems to mortal sense transcendental, because the spiritual man's substantiality transcends mortal vision and is revealed only through divine Science." Here is a definite and concise explanation of the fact that real and eternal verities are cognized only through spiritual sense, and this, to the extent that the transcending thought is capable of comprehending these truths. This does not mean that Christian Scientist walk with their heads in the clouds or are visionaries. The true Christian Scientist knows that the human footsteps cannot be ignored; neither does he wish to ignore them. That is the very reason why Christian Science is available in human affairs, and is such a blessed and practical religion.
The great Teacher and Way-shower of humanity never ignored human experiences. Jesus manifested the Christ; his thoughts always transcended material beliefs; and this enabled him to heal instantaneously. Knowing the law of Life, which transcends the belief of death, he was able to raise Lazarus and others from the dead. Knowing the law of infinite supply, which transcends the belief of lack, he fed the multitude. Knowing the law of divine Love, which transcends the belief of hate, he rolled the stone away from the sepulcher. And here is an important fact,—he showed himself only to those who had been his followers before this experience, to those whose thoughts had somewhat transcended material sense. When he appeared to Mary, he admonished her not to cling to the personal Jesus, saying, "Touch me not." It is related in Matthew that Jesus took Peter, James, and John, into a high mountain and was transfigured before them. The consciousness of his disciples was so uplifted that they beheld a vision of eternal life. Their thought had transcended in some degree the material sense of things.
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October 4, 1924 issue
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Why Do We Go to Church?
KATHERINE ENGLISH
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Real Freedom
MARY F. KINGSTON
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The Perfect Model
LUCIE HASKELL HILL
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The Language of Spirit
CASSIUS M. LOOMIS
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Consistent Prayer
HELEN GENEVIEVE MEST
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True Transcendentalism
MATILDA J. HOFFMAN
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Unlimited Capacity
RAYMOND H. DAVIS
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For a critic to infer that the term "Christian Science" is...
Hugh Stuart Campbell,
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Just what the form of God is should be of little concern...
Brigman C. Odom,
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Christian Science does not teach that there is no crime...
Charles W. J. Tennant
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Christian Scientists are fond of quoting Scripture because...
Stanley M. Sydenham
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Christian Science neither overlooks nor neglects the...
Theodore Burkhart
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A news item appearing in your issue of January 3, under...
Charles E. Heitman
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Letters from the Field
with contributions from Cecile B. Hydeloff, Howard Ross Haviland, Laura M. John, May A. Thibaudeau
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Neither Age nor Blight
Albert F. Gilmore
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One Holy Purpose
Ella W. Hoag
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"The starting-point of divine Science"
Duncan Sinclair
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From the Directors
The Christian Science Board of Directors
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The Lectures
with contributions from George J. Peers
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I became interested in Christian Science when my mother...
Jessie K. Ford
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I feel a deep desire to express my sincere gratitude for...
Elvira Ericson
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Christian Science came into our home about three years...
Annie B. Welch
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Last fall I suffered a severe attack of laryngitis, and was...
Herbert Roy Conway
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A little over six years ago I became interested in Christian Science
Bertie Morris Smith
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In the winter of 1917 I had to go out to do some errands...
Marie RÖtschke with contributions from Charlotte Brontë
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Signs of the Times
with contributions from Agnes MacPhail