Article July 12, 1924 Issue

A critic has asked if Christian Science could "show one...

Charles W. Hale, Committee on Publication for the State of Indiana,—Kokomo

Dispatch

A critic has asked if Christian Science could "show one instance where an outstanding Bible student ... has been converted to Christian Science." Many such instances, convincing to one who is unprejudiced, could be cited, but the difficulty is that such critics usually reserve to themselves the right to judge as to the "outstanding" qualities of such students. The truth is, Christian Science not only numbers among its followers many "outstanding" students, that is, ministers and laymen who were well and favorably known as thorough Bible students, but probably has in its membership and among its students more people, proportionately, who are daily and thoroughly studying the Scriptures than any other church. In fact, to be a true Christian Scientist and to demonstrate the teachings of this religion, the individual must diligently study the Scriptures. It is in the measure of his understanding of the Scriptures that he is able to put them into practice, and to be obedient to the commands of Jesus not only to preach the gospel but to heal the sick.

Christian Science is not a material teaching, resorting to the practice of hypnotism, mesmerism, suggestion, and other phases of occultism; Christian Science is based upon and governed by the one infinite Mind, God. All its teachings and its works are the demonstration of the ever-presence and availability of God's law. Any process of or control by the mortal or carnal mind is erroneous, and is not in accordance with the teachings of Christian Science. Hypnotism, suggestion, and other phases of the operation of the human will are dangerous. They place the weaker or unwatchful mentality under the voluntary or involuntary domination and control of the stronger, and in subjection to evil manipulations. On the other hand, the operation and healing work of Christian Science can manifest and project only good; for it is the law of God. God never created, imparted, or became a party to evil. In referring to such systems to which this critic likened Christian Science, Mrs. Eddy says in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 185): "Such theories and such systems of so-called mind-cure, which have sprung up, are as material as the prevailing systems of medicine. They have their birth in mortal mind, which puts forth a human conception in the name of Science to match the divine Science of immortal Mind, even as the necromancers of Egypt strove to emulate the wonders wrought by Moses. Such theories have no relationship to Christian Science, which rests on the conception of God as the only Life, substance, and intelligence, and excludes the human mind as a spiritual factor in the healing work."

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