Article January 14, 1928 Issue

Recently a book entitled "The Truth About Christian Science"...

Ralph G. Lindstrom, Committee on Publication for the State of Colorado,

Salida Record

Recently a book entitled "The Truth About Christian Science" has been circulated in your community. Since this work contains anything but the truth about Christian Science, but merely gives what its author and other unfair critics believe about Christian Science, brief space for the correction of a few of the misstatements it contains is respectfully requested. First, it should be observed that the author's bibliography shows clearly that most of his "authorities" are hostile and bitterly opposed to Christian Science, and that in his quotations from the writings of Mary Baker Eddy he fails to draw any distinction whatever between so-called mortal material man, on the one hand, and the real spiritual man, on the other hand, citing passages referring to the former as if they had reference to the latter, and vice versa. Every charge of contradiction on the part of Mrs. Eddy results from this same failure to distinguish between the material and the spiritual. In such manner, the Bible might erroneously be charged with contradiction. The Adamic account of creation of a man made from dust and a woman from a rib of the man, which Mrs. Eddy rightly terms an allegory, is met with Isaiah's warning, "Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?" John, the beloved disciple, in one of his epistles observes, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us;" and, "We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not." Manifestly, one reference is to the carnal, material man, who must be "transformed by the renewing of [his] mind," and the other is to the real spiritual man, made in the image and likeness of God. Such confusion of thought indicates how little this book is to be relied upon by those genuinely seeking accurate information.

Our critic tells his readers that his statements are based upon "trustworthy evidence," and yet he claims that "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy is "the Bible of Christian Science;" while slight inquiry would have informed him that the Bible stands by itself more prominently in the daily study and religious services of Christian Scientists than perhaps in any other religion to-day, and that Science and Health is, as its name indicates, a "key" to the Scriptures.

One marvels that such publications should be issued in the name of the Christian ministry. Recently the Bishop of Bradford was reported as having issued a letter to his diocese in which he said, in part: "It is unquestionable that many have found relief by following the precepts of Christian Science, while their open testimony naturally attracts others, and the demands made upon its votaries call forth enthusiasm which the church so far has failed to emulate. Unless, however, the church has something better, because truer, to offer than Christian Science, it will fulminate against Christian Science in vain."

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