Article October 3, 1931 Issue

Kindly permit me to say through the columns of your...

Frank A. Updegraff, Committee on Publication for the State of Kansas,—Hutchinson

News

Kindly permit me to say through the columns of your paper that Christian Science is not a system of "faith healing" (as the term is generally understood), as indicated in an article published in the News of recent date, in which Christian Science was erroneously classified with "Coueism," "mental science," and "various systems of religion and philosophy which claim to cure people just by faith in one form or another."

Christian Science is defined by Mary Baker Eddy, its Discoverer and Founder, as "the law of God, the law of good, interpreting and demonstrating the divine Principle and rule of universal harmony" (Rudimental Divine Science, p. 1). And a Christian Scientist no more heals people "just by faith in one form or another," than a mathematician corrects errors in calculations by such a process.

"Science" is exact knowledge, while "faith" may be, and often is, based on falsity and incapable of proof by demonstration. Faith, writes Mrs. Eddy, "is a chrysalis state of human thought, in which spiritual evidence, contradicting the testimony of material sense, begins to appear, and Truth, the ever-present, is becoming understood" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 297). It is the understanding of "Truth, the ever-present," as taught and demonstrated in Christian Science, that destroys fear and heals the sick. While, from the standpoint of experience, and faith in a so-called material evil influence, disease appears to be the effect of fear, the understanding of "Truth, the ever-present," destroys faith in such an evil or harmful so-called influence, on the scientific basis that because God, Spirit, is good, and the creator of all that really exists, there is nothing in reality to be afraid of, and no occasion to fear. "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God," comes the voice of Truth to human consciousness through the mouth of the prophet. "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom," declared Christ Jesus. And John, who understood that "God is love" and ever present, continues to assure mankind, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear."

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