Article March 7, 1931 Issue

In a review of "Hinduism Invades America," a book by...

Hon. C. Augustus Norwood, Committee on Publication for The First Church of Christ, Boston, Massachusetts,—Boston

Christian Register

In a review of "Hinduism Invades America," a book by Wendell Thomas, in your issue of December 25, 1930, there appears the assertion that Hinduism is indirectly "affecting American thought, as in the movements of Christian Science, theosophy, and new-thought, which embody much Hindu philosophy in their teaching." This statement indicates that while Mr. Thomas may have made an extensive study of Hinduism, his knowledge of Christian Science is inexact. Possibly a person with a superficial understanding of Christian Science might believe that it has something in common with many philosophies and religions, but it is to be observed that the wide differences existing among philosophies and religions are often of far greater significance than their similarities. Christian Science is the scientific understanding of Christianity and cannot be connected with Hinduism any more than can Christianity. Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, states in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 126): "I have found nothing in ancient or in modern systems on which to found my own, except the teachings and demonstrations of our great Master and the lives of prophets and apostles. The Bible has been my only authority. I have had no other guide in 'the straight and narrow way' of Truth."

The fact that Christian Science is based upon the Bible is now being brought to the attention of the public through the issuance each week in hundreds of newspapers throughout the English-speaking world of short reports of the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly which is read on Sunday in all Christian Science churches. These Lesson-Sermons constitute the only sermons delivered in said churches, and are composed of citations from the King James Version of the Bible and of citations from the Christian Science textbook which are explanatory of these Bible passages. The Lesson-Sermons are prepared and delivered in accordance with Mrs. Eddy's plan for church services and present conclusive proof that Christian Science is based on the Bible. Therefore, it is not to be associated with Hinduism.

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