Article December 10, 1927 Issue

"It is not easy to conceive of anything that would be...

Ralph C. Lindstrom, Committee on Publication for the State of Colorado,—Florence

Daily Citizen

"It is not easy to conceive of anything that would be more unfortunate in a community based upon the ideals of which Americans boast than any considerable development of intolerance as regards religion." These words of President Coolidge would seem particularly in point when religionists, conducting revival meetings, engage in public denunciation of fellow religionists, as has recently occurred in your city in revival meetings and through the circulation of pamphlets. Without any desire for controversy, brief space for some correct statements about Christian Science, which has recently been grossly misrepresented in your community, will be greatly appreciated. One of the pamphlets circulated refers to its author's "latest change" in religion, and then proceeds to tell all other religionists that if they are not united in the organization with which this man by his "latest change" is at present united, they "are not ready for advancement." It would seem too clear for argument that the most constructive way of bringing the world to the healing and redemptive power of Christ is by precept and example—"By their fruits ye shall know them"—and not through mere destructive criticism frequently occasioned by a misunderstanding of what others think and practice. The author of one of the pamphlets says that he first belonged to one Protestant church, then became a student of Christian Science; that he later left Christian Science for study with one who had left the Christian Science movement, and is now an adherent of still another religious movement. The fact that he never gained the spirit of Christian Science is indicated, not only by his many changes, but also by his charge that it teaches that the mortal, carnal man, so called, is incapable of sin, and also that it ignores the devil. In the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy succinctly tells us on page 339: "A sinner can receive no encouragement from the fact that Science demonstrates the unreality of evil, for the sinner would make a reality of sin, —would make that real which is unreal, and thus heap up 'wrath against the day of wrath.' He is joining in a conspiracy against himself,—against his own awakening to the awful unreality by which he has been deceived. Only those, who repent of sin and forsake the unreal, can fully understand the unreality of evil."

Next, our critic says that Christian Science ignores the work of Jesus. The actual teaching of Christian Science on this subject is given on page 26 of Science and Health, where Mrs. Eddy says: "While we adore Jesus, and the heart overflows with gratitude for what he did for mortals,— treading alone his loving pathway up to the throne of glory, in speechless agony exploring the way for us,—yet Jesus spares us not one individual experience, if we follow his commands faithfully; and all have the cup of sorrowful effort to drink in proportion to their demonstration of his love, till all are redeemed through divine Love." We are next confronted with the rather remarkable assertion by our critic: "All the right thinking and doing in the world will never get you in heaven." One naturally wonders what is to be done with these statements in the Bible, As a man "thinketh in his heart, so is he;" and, "Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind;" and, "To be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." If one believes that right thinking merely means to entertain certain theories and to make certain parrotlike statements, then, of course, such "right thinking" would avail little; but "right thinking" in Christian Science is a genuine giving up of evil and sin and impurity and of beliefs and desires of the flesh, and results in right living, in availing one's self of the grace of God, which our critic wrongly charges is ignored in Christian Science. Instead of teaching that through mere human effort one can be redeemed or saved from error, Christian Science teaches that only in proportion as the human, carnal, or fleshly life and mind are given up for the spiritual, true, and pure Mind "which was also in Christ Jesus," is one blessed with genuine salvation. With the utmost kindness of thought to the author of this critical pamphlet, one is impelled to observe that the many misstatements as to the teachings of Christian Science with which his pamphlet abounds, illustrate the necessity for more of the spirit of Truth as a means of understanding its teachings, and less of mere theoretical assertion. As Paul said, "The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." Finally, we are confronted with the critic's opinion that men had better die than to be healed through spiritual healing in Christian Science. When one genuinely understands that Christian Science has for its final purpose the overcoming of sin, such a statement is strange indeed. Death is described in the Bible as the "wages of sin" and the "last enemy" to be overcome. Further, we are told by the prophet: "I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye."

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