Article August 4, 1928 Issue

In an article entitled "The Triumph of the Ancestral...

Paul Gassner, Committee on Publication for Germany,

Magdeburgische Zeitung

In an article entitled "The Triumph of the Ancestral Spirit of the Indians" the religious teaching of Christian Science is also briefly mentioned, and the absolutely erroneous statement is made that "Christian Science is a ritual of exorcism; demons of sickness are denied; appropriate formulas are chanted over the refractory body." Such a statement proves that the writer of the article is erronerously informed about the religious teaching of Christian Science. A glance into the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, the Founder of this religion, will show that such a statement is incorrect and has no foundation. Numerous hostile writings describe Christian Science simply as a mystical method, healing through hypnotic effects, and it is to be regretted that such statements are far too often passed on to others without investigation of the authorized literature of this religion. Christian Science is the name of the Christian religion which was founded in 1866 by Mary Baker Eddy in Boston, Massachusetts, and which in the interim has spread throughout the whole world. The aim of this religion is to restore primitive Christianity in all its phases to the consciousness of mankind. Chapters IV and V of the above-mentioned textbook are especially directed against animal magnetism, mesmerism, spiritualism, occultism, hypnotism, and every practice involving human will-power. The use of formulas is also emphatically condemned.

The healing of the sick is not the main object of Christian Science: its main object is the overcoming of sin; but Christian Science recognizes in the healing of sickness one of the stipulations of primitive Christianity, namely, one of the instructions given by Jesus to all faithful Christians to put faith into practice through works. Christian Science admonishes all faithful Christians to strive earnestly to follow the teachings and example of Jesus not only in a few ways but in every way. Jesus taught that he did not do the works of himself, but that it was the Father, eternal Truth, God, who worked through him. Likewise, the Christian Scientist recognizes that he, personally, is not a healer, but that it is God who, as Jesus proved to suffering humanity, remains unchanged to-day, and for all times, in His power to heal as in the time of primitive Christianity. Christian Science must never be confused with healing methods involving suggestion, in which formulas and charms are used.

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