Article December 20, 1930 Issue

The writer of an article, under the heading "Health Hints,"...

J. Latimer Davis, Committee on Publication for the State of Iowa,—West Union

Fayette County Union

The writer of an article, under the heading "Health Hints," printed in the January 30th issue of the Fayette County Union, expressed his belief that the healing afforded through Christian Science is but a phase of so-called "mindcure." He also offered the opinion that Christian Science and new-thought were kindred in character. But both of his assumptions conveyed only misconceptions of Christian Science; and to correct the wrong impression his statements may have left with some of your readers, I should like to submit a few authentic facts concerning Christian Science.

First of all, please allow me to say that Christian Science is neither a form of "mind-cure" nor like any other teaching of either recent or remote origin, except the teaching of Christ Jesus. It is in fact a reinstatement of both the teaching and practice of the Master, whose healing work was distinct from all other healing methods. Christian Science does not operate through the so-called human mind, as was evidently supposed by your contributor, but wholly through that Mind "which was also in Christ Jesus." And the Mind which actuated Christ Jesus, and which so wondrously directed his high mission to mankind, was the divine Mind, or God. God alone is the acknowledged source of healing in Christian Science, as Mrs. Eddy repeatedly explains throughout her writings. A single quotation will suffice. When speaking of various so-called "mind-cures," in contradistinction to Christian Science healing, she wrote on page 185 of her book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," as follows: "Such theories have no relationship to Christian Science, which rests on the conception of God as the only Life, substance, and intelligence, and excludes the human mind as a spiritual factor in the healing work."

Your contributor ventured the remark that if Christian Science healing were separated from what he chose to call its "unorthodox" theology it would "merit a large following." But the newspaper writer's proposal holds neither hope for progress through its adoption, nor despair of advancement by reason of its rejection. Christian Science progresses because its healing demonstrates the truth of its teaching, just as the beneficent work of Christ Jesus proved the divine ability of the great Teacher and the truthfulness of what he taught concerning God and man. There can be no separation between the healing of Christian Science and its religious teaching, any more than the healing work of the Master could have been accomplished apart from his deep religious convictions. To the adherent of material creeds and dogmas Christian Science may appear "unorthodox" because it rejects all material methods; but since it is based squarely on the teachings of the Master, it cannot appear other than orthodox to all who consider it from the gospel standpoint.

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