Christian Scientists quite well understand and appreciate...

Texas State Journal of Medicine

Christian Scientists quite well understand and appreciate that disease appears to be very real and obdurate to the material, human sense of things; but as disease is recognized by them as error, and not as a part or factor of true being, and as every form of disease is being healed through this understanding, the correctness of their position is demonstrated. Christian Scientists view disease experiences in much the same way as the mathematician views errors in his computations. He does not hold these errors to be real, but regards them as something to be eliminated by a correct application of mathematical truth. Similarly, the musician does not regard discords as a component part of the science of music; and he eliminates them by a correct understanding and application of the laws of underlying harmony. Hence it is seen how, through Christian Science, discords of material sense are eliminated from human experience; that is, by knowing the truth, and by understanding and demonstrating that the realities of being are ever harmonious.

The mental origin and nature of disease is now freely admitted by many competent medical men, no less an authority than Sir William Osler holding that the foundation of the treatment of disease is to be found in the realm of the mental. So the attitude of Christian Scientists should not be considered dangerous to the community. Indeed, their scrupulous observance of quarantine and contagion regulations is acknowledged by public health officials the country over.

The teachings of Christian Science with respect to the conscientious, skillful medical practitioner and surgeon may be seen from the following excerpts from "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," wherein Mrs. Eddy states (p. 151), "Great respect is due the motives and philanthropy of the higher class of physicians;" also (p. 164), "It is just to say that generally the cultured class of medical practitioners are grand men and women, therefore they are more scientific than are false claimants to Christian Science." It is to be observed, then, that any unkind attitude on the part of the students of Christian Science towards the medical profession is a fault on their part, and not a fault of the teaching of Christian Science; and it should be understood that it is not "medicine" that is opposed, but the growth and development of what has come to be termed "state" or compulsory medicine. However, some of the most unrelenting opposition to the political activities of "organized medicine" comes from responsible and able journals and members of the regular medical profession itself, as will be seen from the following references.

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