Editorial December 6, 1924 Issue

Divine Theology

Ella W. Hoag

Quite frequently the term "theology" is misunderstood and consequently misapplied. Webster in his definition of it states simply and positively that it is "the science of God or of religion; science of the existence and character of God and of His laws; divinity." Because men have had such varied concepts of God, their theology has appeared to take on various forms. All true theology, however, even according to the accepted meaning of the term, must imply only that which belongs to "the science of God;" in other words, to that which presents God and His laws in conformity with God's own Science.

Theology must therefore have been in existence as long as God Himself, since it would be quite impossible to conceive of God as separated from a correct, scientific understanding of Himself. To speak, therefore, of "old theology" with a sense of opprobrium would imply a sneer at Deity. The truest theology there is must be the oldest theology from the standpoint of limitless existence. As the Psalmist sang: "Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting."

All true theology is therefore divine, since it is always at-one with God and His Science. Mrs. Eddy speaks of this divine theology and of the need of understanding it with deepest reverence, even saying in "Miscellaneous Writings" (pp. 58, 59), "Without its theology there is no mental science, no order that proceeds from God." And a little farther on she adds, "Take away the theology of mental healing and you take away its science;" and, "Having no true sense of the healing theology of Mind, you can neither understand nor demonstrate its Science."

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