Article July 14, 1928 Issue

From what a minister said of his religious beliefs, as...

Albert E. Lombard, Committee on Publication for Southern California,—Santa Monica

Evening Outlook

From what a minister said of his religious beliefs, as quoted in your recent issue, it is evident that his theological viewpoint is radically different from that of Christian Scientists. Moreover, his remarks about Christian Science indicated that he has a misconception of the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science. The healing of sickness and sin by this Science is not accomplished by "calling them illusions and errors," but through the perception of the truth, namely, the correct knowledge of God and of Christ, in accordance with the Master's statement, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent;" and the spiritual understanding of man's true identity as the image and likeness of God. Then the big question is, What are God, Christ, and man? There can be no greater authority on this subject than the inspired words of the Bible and the teachings of Christ Jesus himself. From them we learn that God is Spirit and that He is ever present good; that the real selfhood of the Master is the Christ, the Messiah; and that the spiritual man is the image and likeness of God, Spirit.

Through consecrated study of the Bible and logical reasoning based upon the Bible truths, Mrs. Eddy concluded that, notwithstanding the evidence of the senses to the contrary, man, the image and likeness of God, Spirit, is not material but spiritual, and that this true man, the reflection of God, good, does not express any quality of evil, but manifests all the attributes of good, such as health, harmony, and goodness. The astronomical scientist is not accused of "mental gymnastics" when he declares, as a result of careful study, that the sun does not rise in the east and set in the west, but only seems to do so. Should not the Christian Scientist, who disputes material sense testimony through enlightened spiritual understanding, enjoy the same immunity from condemnation? Christ Jesus understood that the "evil and suffering ... of human beings" are not a part of man's true existence, and he never advised mortals to devote their thought to the errors of the world. While working in the valley of human affairs, he kept his consciousness on the mountain top of spirituality, thereby liberating mankind from evil and suffering, and encouraging his followers with the words, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Following the example of Christ Jesus, Christian Scientists not only destroy the "unpleasant facts of human experience," but "close their minds" to these unpleasant facts. Christ Jesus said, "Ye shall know them by their fruits." Christian Science should be judged by its results, which are to be found in the cases of sin and sickness that have been healed through its spiritual method.

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