Article March 7, 1931 Issue

Correct Reasoning in Science Practice

LEONARD T. CARNEY

There is analogy between legal pleadings and correct reasoning in Christian Science, for underlying both are the general rules of logic. Mrs. Eddy has indicated this in her use of the allegory of a court trial in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (pp. 430–442), which illustrates how Christian Science heals the sick, and which may be studied with profit. As Jesus used the parables to present some simple yet profound truths, so Mrs. Eddy has occasionally used the allegory to emphasize something of importance. The story of a mental case on trial was written as she received it by revelation. It depicts Mortal Man on trial before Judge Medicine for the breaking of certain health laws. After various witnesses have been heard, namely, the representative of Health-laws, Coated Tongue, Sallow Skin, Nerve, Mortality, and Death, Mortal Man is sentenced to die. Then the case is taken up by the attorney, Christian Science, who appeals it before the Supreme Court of Spirit, wherein the decision is reversed and the prisoner set free.

What lesson may we find here? In the trial before the lower court, no plea was filed for the unhappy Mortal Man. The jury, made up of Physiology, Hypnotism, Envy, and others, heard the testimony against the defendant. Judge Medicine delivered his charge and the prisoner was condemned to die without a voice being raised in his behalf. Fear had evidently caused him to admit all that was presented against him without a single effort on his own part to deny the testimony or present his defense. He really agreed with error, and the consequences seemed alarming.

However, such a decree is not final, for in this allegory Christian Science is presented as a worthy counselor; and so proves to be. The proper pleas are filed in the higher court. The jurisdiction over man by the lower court, presided over by Judge Medicine, is denied. It is argued that Spirit has a right to be heard against the claims of error, and error is rebuked. The fact is brought out that there is no law to punish with death a man who has acted innocently, and that the evidence against the prisoner was untrue. It is said that no crime had been committed; that there is no disease, for it is illegitimate; and, finally, that the prisoner is subject only to the law of God. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Spirit concludes his charge by saying, in part (p. 442), "Man is adjudged innocent of transgressing physical laws, because there are no such laws," and the prisoner is thereupon freed.

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The Art of Appeal
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