Article May 21, 1927 Issue

In a recent issue your report of a sermon in St. John's Church, Preston,...

Arthur E. Blainey, Committee on Publication for the Province of Ontario, Canada,

Galt Evening Reporter

In a recent issue your report of a sermon in St. John's Church, Preston, contains a reference to Christian Science which requires a brief correction. The archbishop is reported to have said in part: "Many strange phases of religious thought, sometimes in the guise of Christian Science or theosophy, present themselves to the Christian. Remember, these teach no belief in a personal God, teach that Jesus was no more than a man, and teach the doctrine of pantheism." Although Christian Science and theosophy are coupled together in the foregoing, they positively are not akin, and whatever theosophy may teach, the statement referred to certainly does not express the teachings of Christian Science. In reference to the words "personal God," if finite corporeality is meant, Christian Science does find this difficult to reconcile with such Bible teaching as, "God is a Spirit," and, "God is love." However, the thought of infinite incorporeal personality or individuality does accord with the teachings of Christian Science, as may be learned from its textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, where she gives as the definition of God: "The great I am; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal; Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love; all substance; intelligence" (p. 587). Thus Christian Science affirms God to be omnipotent, omnipresent, and absolutely supreme. And as God is all, and is infinite Spirit, He is not in nonintelligent matter. Consequently, Christian Science positively does not teach the doctrine of pantheism, as was asserted, but rather repudiates that theory as erroneous and impossible. In Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy makes fifteen distinct references to this question, each instance showing clearly the impossibility of the doctrine of pantheism finding any place in the teachings of Christian Science. For instance (p. 129): "Pantheism may be defined as a belief in the intelligence of matter,—a belief which Science overthrows." And she adds: "Animal magnetism, hypnotism, spiritualism, theosophy, agnosticism, pantheism, and infidelity are antagonistic to true being and fatal to its demonstration."

Those who by reason of their study and application of the teachings of Christian Science are in a position to pass judgment thereon, know positively that it does not conflict with any great spiritual truth of the Bible; also, that it presents a reasonable elucidation, and makes possible the practical demonstration of the teachings, including the words and the works of Christ Jesus.

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