Article October 16, 1926 Issue

There is, in reality, no similarity or connection between...

Miss Esther Murray, Committee on Publication for Natal, Union of South Africa,—Durban

South African Women's Weekly

There is, in reality, no similarity or connection between Christian Science and the other teachings mentioned by your correspondents. While theosophy and psychology look to the human mind, Christian Science relies entirely on the divine Mind, that is, God, for help and healing. Knowing that, as the Scriptures declare, God is "of purer eyes than to behold evil," Christian Scientists realize that He could neither create nor permit evil, in any shape or form. The human mind is always a mixture of good and evil, therefore not to be relied on; but God, being wholly good, cannot know evil, and the understanding of God, good, can and does destroy the belief of evil, just as light destroys darkness. Christian Scientists follow the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy, the Founder of the Christian Science religion, because they are convinced that she follows the teachings of Christ Jesus, who said, "Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink;" and, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing."

In the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 261), Mrs. Eddy writes as follows: "Look away from the body into Truth and Love, the Principle of all happiness, harmony, and immortality;" and on the same page we read, "We should forget our bodies in remembering good and the human race." This is what Christian Scientists are trying to do, to think less of the body and its requirements, and more of helping others—trying to replace, both in themselves and in others, thoughts of hate, bitterness, resentment, fear, and self-pity with thoughts of love, gentleness, compassion, tenderness, purity, and self-immolation. As thought is thus uplifted and spiritualized, the body naturally improves, and the patient is healed, mentally, morally, and physically. The understanding that matter is unreal, that is, not of God, was not Mrs. Eddy's opinion; the truth came to her through revelation, after studying the Bible, which she tells us was her only textbook. In Ecclesiastes we read, "Whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it." This surely does not apply to matter, which is constantly changing, while God's creation is spiritual, perfect, and eternal. Paul said, "The things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." Following the teachings of their Leader, Mrs. Eddy, all Christian Scientists are earnest students of the Bible, which they read daily, in connection with their textbook. And for this textbook they are grateful, finding it is indeed a "Key to the Scriptures."

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