Article August 14, 1926 Issue

In his recent "Weekly Health Talk," Dr. Phy again...

Theodore Burkhart, Committee on Publication for the State of Oregon,—La Grande

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In his recent "Weekly Health Talk," Dr. Phy again mentions Christian Science in a way that calls for correction. He says, "The studied prattle of salesmanship, which has to do with the subjective mind, accounts for any good influence which Christian Science may have, explains the result of Couéism and other soon forgotten cults, and is the real foundation on which all of these so-called systems of healing is founded." Just what he means by that can only be surmised. I had supposed Dr. Phy to be fairly well informed regarding Christian Science, its fundamentals, practice, and modus operandi, but the statement above quoted either fails to express his meaning or it is an example of ignorance, rather surprising in one who presumes to give reliable information through the public press.

Christian Science is founded squarely upon the Scriptures and the teachings of Christ Jesus. Jesus healed the sick and the sinning by purely spiritual means, and he attributed all power to God. He healed all manner of disease through God, the one divine Mind, and never taught or practiced anything in the way of suggestion or of a "subjective" mind. The "studied prattle of salesmanship" can no more account for the good accomplished by Christian Science than it accounts for the healing works of the master Christian. The artful and wordy tactics of commercial salesmanship have no place whatever in Christian Science practice, and I find it difficult to believe Dr. Phy could have had any intention of so implying. What accounts for the uplifting and healing influence which characterizes the practice of this Science of Christianity is increased understanding of spiritual things. This spiritual understanding is gained by the study and practice of Christian virtues, and the rules for scientifically applying these virtues to the solution of everyday problems are explained and taught in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. In casting reflection upon the character of the influence by which good is brought about in Christian Science, one may find himself in deep water, unwittingly casting like aspersions on the twenty-third and ninety-first psalms, the Sermon on the Mount, and the epistles of the New Testament writers, for it is by the use of just such winsome arguments and appeals for acceptance of spiritual truth that Christian Science uplifts and heals.

Christian Science is restoring early Christianity and its element of healing, and since it follows Jesus' methods, its healing practices are in every respect Christian in character, and the improved mental and physical conditions resulting therefrom are proofs of that fact. Theories that involve suggestion or beliefs in a so-called subjective mind, or which are capable of misuse, have nothing in common with Christian Science. Systems so diametrically opposed as are Christian Science and Couéism could not possibly have the same or even similar foundations. Beliefs in human minds many and in the power of human will constitute much of what the Apostle Paul called the "carnal mind," which, he said, "is enmity against God." On the contrary, Christian Science is incapable of evil or misuse, for the reason that it utilizes in its healing ministry none other than the one divine Mind, commonly called God. The Science of Christianity holds that all genuine and permanent good has but one source, the divine Principle of all. For, as the Apostle James says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." Hence those who understand Christian Science well enough to demonstrate its truth know that the abundance of good which it is accomplishing is to be accounted for by the action of none other than that Mind "which was also in Christ Jesus."

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In his recent "Weekly Health Talk," Dr. Phy again...

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