Article January 5, 1929 Issue

Your correspondent is again mistaken in his conclusion...

Aaron E. Brandt, Committee on Publication for the State of Pennsylvania,

Pittsburgh Courier

Your correspondent is again mistaken in his conclusion as stated by him in your recent issue. Christian Scientists do not "have an idea that no one should differ with them," or "criticize their beliefs." They realize that a materialist, whose concept of substance is based on unintelligent and changeable matter, cannot, so long as he holds to that belief, have a true appreciation of real substance—Spirit and Spirit's unchangeable manifestation. Christian Science is based only on such understanding. "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing," said Christ Jesus. "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." "Thy word is truth." If your correspondent wants to criticize the Word of God, that is his prerogative; but there is a decided difference between intelligent criticism and mere scurrilous remarks. The practice of Christian Science is not "healing by faith" or faith cure, as the term is usually understood. The faith of the Christian Scientist is based on the understanding of spiritual law, which is as unchangeable as the science of numbers. An understanding of the laws of Life and of true being, as discovered by Mrs. Eddy, even in small degree, has healed inveterate disease after all other means have failed. Consequently, resort to unintelligent matter for healing does not in any sense characterize the practice of Christian Science.

The critic makes the assertion that "matter is the only real thing we know anything about," in face of the fact that matter has no lasting definable nature. When physicists seem to have nailed it down to something definite, it always eludes them, to reappear as something else. With every advancing step natural scientists are approaching nearer to the conclusion of Mrs. Eddy as to matter's unreality. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 278) she asks, "Is Spirit the source or creator of matter?" And she answers her question thus: "Science reveals nothing in Spirit out of which to create matter. Divine metaphysics explains away matter. Spirit is the only substance and consciousness recognized by divine Science." When the critic asserts that "matter is the only real thing we know anything about," we are privileged to decline his limited views. Paul said, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace," et cetera; and again, "The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth." We are unwilling to believe that the critic is entirely lacking in the knowledge of these real spiritual qualities.

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