Article July 14, 1928 Issue

In a recent issue you very kindly published a refutation...

Richard H. Smith, Committee on Publication for the State of Montana,—Lewistown

Democrat-News

In a recent issue you very kindly published a refutation of the claim made by a revivalist that Christian Science denies many of the important teachings of God and is leading millions of souls to hell. With respect to his further references to Christian Science, as reported in a later issue, permit me to say we agree that the teachings of God are found in the Bible. But his statement is not true that we deny the death and resurrection of Jesus, the atonement of Christ, and that there seems to be sin. In answer to the question, "Do I believe in the atonement of Christ?" Mrs. Eddy says on page 96 of "Miscellaneous Writings": "I do; and this atonement becomes more to me since it includes man's redemption from sickness as well as from sin. I reverence and adore Christ as never before." On page 231 of Science and Health she has also written: "To hold yourself superior to sin, because God made you superior to it and governs man, is true wisdom."

Christian Science draws a clear distinction between spiritual man created "in the image of God" and the so-called carnal or mortal mind, which Paul says "is enmity against God." Spiritual man cannot sin, be sick, or die. We know that God cannot be sick, sin, or die; therefore His image and likeness, spiritual man, cannot either. But the so-called carnal or mortal man seems to be heir to all of these. Moreover, we read in the first chapter of Genesis: "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good," and therefore we understand that sin, sickness, and death, which seem very real to the so-called carnal or mortal man, are not real. If God did not make them, they have never been created, since He made everything. Wherever, therefore, in Christian Science literature it is stated that there is no sin or death, reference is made to the spiritual or real. It is the purpose of Christian Scientists to "put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." The gentleman is correct in his statement that Christian Science teaches that Jesus is not God. Certainly Jesus knew what he was, for he said, "Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God."

The revivalist's intimation that Christian Science "makes men and women crazy" cannot be proved. On the contrary, many testimonies can be produced from those who have been healed of insanity through Christian Science treatment. If I believed, as does our critic, in a future hell of fire and brimstone in which men are cruelly and everlastingly burned, I would hesitate, except on the most positive proof, to declare that any person was going to such a place; yet this is what this revivalist has declared of Christian Scientists, as well as of others. It has been often established by well-authenticated testimonies and in court proceedings that Christian Science not only reforms the sinner, but brings joy, contentment, peace, and happiness into barren lives, and heals the sick. I submit that any religion which produces such results is not "leading millions of souls to hell" but to heaven, which the Bible declares "is within you."

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