Article October 11, 1924 Issue

A critic persists in taking exceptions to the teachings of...

Fred B. Kerrick, Committee on Publication for Northern California,—Dos Palos

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A critic persists in taking exceptions to the teachings of Christian Science by declaring that in the first chapter of Genesis God is named as the creator of matter, simply because the earth, whales, cattle, and every living thing are therein mentioned. Yet there is nothing in the record to prove that the creation spoken of is material. On the contrary, we have evidence that the real creation is a spiritual creation. God created light on the first day of His creation. Mrs. Eddy states: "This light is not from the sun nor from volcanic flames, but it is the revelation of Truth and of spiritual ideas. This also shows that there is no place where God's light is not seen, since Truth, Life, and Love fill immensity and are ever-present. Was not this a revelation instead of a creation?" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 504).

It is somewhat surprising that the critic still believes in and clings to matter as a reality; for there are many in recent years, apart from Christian Scientists, who no longer believe that matter is a reality. Herbert Spencer says: "Matter, then, in its ultimate nature is as incomprehensible as time and space. Frame what suppositions we may, we find on tracing out their implications that they leave us nothing but a choice between opposite absurdities." He further states that the objects we see around us—trees, mountains, men, et cetera—are not real objects, but merely mental representations of real objects—thought trees, thought mountains, et cetera—and consist, not of matter, nor any material substance, but of the substance of thought. His conclusions would necessarily apply to earth, whales, and cattle! Christian Science declares that Spirit is the only substance,—"This light is not from the sun nor from volcanic flames, but it is the revelation of Truth and of spiritual ideas. This also shows that there is no place where God's light is not seen, since Truth, Life, and Love fill immensity and are ever-present. Was not this a revelation instead of a creation?" (Science and Health, p. 468).

Jesus, the great Exemplar, denied the world, the flesh, and the devil, and admonished his true followers to do likewise. He declared, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing." He himself overcame the flesh. How could he do this? Because of its nothingness; because it was not of God. The writer to the Hebrews says: "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear;" and furthermore, as Paul writes, "Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh."

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