Article September 25, 1926 ISSUE

Affirmation of Truth and Denial of Error

ALBERT M. CHENEY

THE Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 149), "We need to understand the affirmations of divine Science, dismiss superstition, and demonstrate truth according to Christ." And on page 242she states, "Denial of the claims of matter is a great step towards the joys of Spirit, towards human freedom and the final triumph over the body."

A Christian Science treatment generally includes a declaration and a realization of the truth, and a denial and a complete dismissal of all error claiming to be present. True Christian Science treatment, thus, is not a parrotlike repetition of certain words or phrases. If such were the case, one might have a phonograph record made of a well-worded prayer, listen to it at regular intervals, and then say he had been prayed for or had been given a treatment! Thanks to the wisdom of our Leader, the use of formulas in healing the sick or in teaching Christian Science is forbidden. (See Church Manual, Article VIII, Section 9.)

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