Article May 2, 1931 ISSUE

[Written Especially for Young People]

Sophistication or Sincerity?

ALICE CORTRIGHT

CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS always rejoice that they have an unvarying Principle by which to order aright the affairs of daily life. During his educational period, however, the youthful student is assailed on all sides by various theories and philosophies, with which "if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." He is fortified by his daily study of the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly to challenge these arguments, and he finds by making use of the Concodances to the Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings, which are at his disposal at any Christian Science Reading Room, that he can have logical and practical enlightenment on any subject.

The suggestion may come that his constant practice of this Science will make him too unlike his fellows. When he does not accede to the customs and habits of those with whom he is associated, he may even be accused of being "goody-goody" or "unsophisticated." Let us analyze this. The dictionary definition of "sophisticated" which our young friends would probably choose in this respect is "worldly-wise." The Sophists were a class of teachers in ancient Greece who were skilled in adroit and specious reasoning, leading to display and insincerity. Hence this word really means superficiality or artificiality, something that is deluding, misleading—quite the reverse of anything the Christian Scientist wishes to express; so let him not for a moment envy or bow down to nonchalant sophistication.

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