Article May 26, 1928 Issue

By way of correcting any erroneous impression that may...

John Ross, Committee on Publication for the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada,—Halifax

Evening Mail

By way of correcting any erroneous impression that may have been conveyed by a clergyman's answer to the question, in your recent issue, "What is your honest opinion of Christian Science and its Founder?" this letter is submitted. It is evident that the clergyman has not given either the time or the study to Christian Science that he has to the many other subjects which he answers with such facility. For instance, the clergyman finds fault with Mrs. Eddy's teaching that evil in all its forms is unreal. It should not be necessary to point out to our friend the distinction between what is real in absolute Being and what is unreal. This distinction, elucidated by Christian Science, is now admitted by many of the most intelligent and thoughtful people. For instance, President Coolidge, in his address of Febrary 23, 1926, said: "Envy, malice, uncharitableness, class jealousies, race prejudices and international enmities are not realities. ... They are only the fictions of unenlightened comprehension."

The term "reality" is used in Christian Science to denote all that belongs to the spiritual realm, the eternal, unchangeable creation of God; while "unreality" signifies the temporal, ever changing conditions which are apparently visible to the physical senses. Paul made this distinction when he said: "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."

Christian Scientists deny the reality of evil and disease, which are not mentioned among the "very good" things that were created by God: "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good." But they do not ignore their seeming presence in human experience; and they handle them as did the Master. Jesus alluded to the unreality of evil, but worked to save people from belief in it. He said, "The flesh profiteth nothing;" but he practiced Christian healing, and taught his followers to do the same. Health is not the "great objective" in Christian Science as our brother affirms, but is one of its most noticeable effects. The statement that Christian Science has inflicted suffering upon helpless invalids and children is entirely gratuitous, and is made without knowledge of the facts. The practice of Christian Science relieves pain and suffering, is not limited to "neurotics and hypochondriacs," and is efficacious in organic troubles. Mrs. Eddy has described her method on page xi of the Preface to the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," in these words: "The physical healing of Christian Science results now, as in Jesus' time, from the operation of divine Principle, before which sin and disease lose their reality in human consciousness and disappear as naturally and as necessarily as darkness gives place to light and sin to reformation." In conclusion, I would like to present the following tributes from impartial observers, to the life and work of Mrs. Eddy. "God used Mrs. Eddy for a special revelation, and there is, indeed, no reason why this should not be so. No just person can fail to admire her as a religious leader. She has founded a great church, and, let us say it frankly, brought great blessings on countless lives" (Rev. Edward T. Vernon, London). "Christian Science is one of the most extraordinary religious movements of modern times, and a testimony to the vital need of absolute religion in the life of to-day. Its great achievement is its vision of God as the All-good, the All-real, the All-loving, and its technique of realization whereby the love and power of God are demonstrated to be real and workable in everyday life, ventilating the mind, transfiguring the spirit, and lifting men and women out of the fear that stands in weakness into the faith that walks in power" (Editor of Woman's Home Companion).

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

By way of correcting any erroneous impression that may...

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access