Article April 20, 1929 Issue

My attention has been called to your recent issue in...

Albert J. Windle, Committee on Publication for Nottinghamshire, England,—Mansfield

Mansfield and North Notts Advertiser

My attention has been called to your recent issue in which appears a report of an address on "The Religious Situation," which refers to Christian Science (1) as superstition, (2) as including a strong materialistic element, and (3) as showing a craving for visible signs. As such statements show a misunderstanding, or lack of understanding, of the teachings of Christian Science, may I be allowed to reply briefly to them. (1) Following the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, Christian Science teaches very clearly what is real and what is unreal, and so exposes the nature of superstition, giving at the same time the demonstrable knowledge of the statement of Jesus, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." I know of nothing in religions or philosophies which exposes superstition in all its aspects, at the same time that it provides the method by which individuals may be freed from any of its effects, as Christian Science does. On page 83 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, are these pointed words: "Between Christian Science and all forms of superstition a great gulf is fixed, as impassable as that between Dives and Lazarus."

(2) Christian Science teaches the allness of God, Spirit, and the unreality of matter. It declares that Spirit, God, is the only real substance, "incapable of discord and decay," and that matter has "no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance" (ibid., p. 468). The lives of Christian Scientists afford evidence that they are depending upon the spiritual truths of the Bible rather than upon material sense testimony. There is no evidence, either in the writings of Mrs. Eddy or in the lives of genuine Christian Scientists, of a strong materialistic element.

(3) The only visible signs looked for by Christian Scientists are those that Jesus himself commanded "them that believe" to demonstrate, when he said, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Christian Scientists appreciate the difference between the "signs following" required by Jesus of his followers, and the signs looked for by the materialistic Thomas. The mission of Christian Science is not primarily physical healing: healings are but signs to demonstrate its divine origin. The presence of the Christ, Truth, in human consciousness always heals, redeems, and saves, not only from sin but from sickness also, as our Master, Christ Jesus, demonstrated.

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