Article January 17, 1925 Issue

In presenting the religious tenets of Christian Science in...

W. Stuart Booth, Committee on Publication for the State of Colorado, —Florence

Daily Citizen

In presenting the religious tenets of Christian Science in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 497), Mrs. Eddy states the very first one in these words: "As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life." As its name indicates, Science and Health is the "Key" to the Scriptures; and it is used by Christian Scientists somewhat as other Bible students employ various commentaries on the Scriptures. However, those who are now Christian Scientists use the Bible much more than they formerly did, because Science and Health has so illumined its spiritual meaning that they have found it eminently practical, and infact indispensable in meeting the many problems of everyday life. Christian Science teaches the truth about God and man so clearly that Christ Jesus' words, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free," are being verified in the liberating of those bound by the fetters of fear and the shackles of sin and sickness. Christ Jesus stated the real nature of sickness and sin when he denounced the devil, or evil, as a liar and the father of lies, and stated explicitly that sickness is not from God. Nevertheless, although Jesus saw that sin and sickness are unreal in God's sight, he went about healing those who, through false materialistic education, were believing in their reality; which healing work was as consistent as it was Christian.

Christian Science teaches that Christ Jesus was not God, but was the Son of God. Jesus repeatedly spoke of God as his Father; and when the rich young man addressed him as "Good Master," Jesus rebuked him in these words: "Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God." Furthermore, had Christ Jesus believed in and taught the theory of vicarious atonement there would have been no need of others doing the Christian works which he indicated clearly were absolutely essential; nor would Paul have written: "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."

At the beginning of the chapter on Atonement and Eucharist in Science and Health (p. 18) Mrs. Eddy succinctly states the Christian Science teaching on this subject in thesewords: "Jesus of Nazareth taught and demonstrated man's oneness with the Father, and for this we owe him endless homage. His mission was both individual and collective. He did life's work aright not only in justice to himself, but in mercy to mortals,—to show them how to do theirs, but not to do it for them nor to relieve them of a single responsibility. Jesus acted boldly, against the accredited evidence of the senses, against Pharisaical creeds and practices, and he refuted all opponents with his healing power."

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