Editorial January 9, 1932 Issue

Demonstrating God's Government

Clifford P. Smith

One of the meanings of the word "scientific" is "in accord with the rules or methods of science; systematic; exact; sound" (Winston Simplified Dictionary). Therefore, a method or procedure can be scientific even when it is applied to material subjects. Christian Science itself, when rightly applied, is remedial to all forms of materiality. The objection of Christian Science to much of what is called science is that the latter is based on material hypotheses or premises. Thus Mrs. Eddy has said, "Christian Science eschews what is called natural science, in so far as this is built on the false hypotheses that matter is its own lawgiver, that law is founded on material conditions, and that these are final and overrule the might of divine Mind" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, pp. 127, 128).

Anyone who has a case to handle or a problem to solve, and who intends to examine it throughly, should first consider what factors may enter into the case or problem, and should then rate the different factors according to their importance or significance. To approach a case or problem in this way is scientific from all points of view. Christian Science then differs from ordianry science by regarding every situation as essentially mental, by making its own search for the factors in any case, by having its own rating for them, and by resorting to its own remedy for every wrong.

An illustration is furnished by the depression which is now said to affect the entire world. From the Christian Science viewpoint, the general belief that abundance and lack must alternate and recur composes a counterfeit law which is contrary to God's constant and harmonious government of man and the universe. From this point of view, therefore, the law in question is false; hence, it can be denied and invalidated by mental and spiritual recourse to divine law and power. Economics and other phases of ordinary science regard the alternation and recurrence of abundance and lack as an actual law which cannot be abrogated. In effect therefore, certain phases of ordinary science contribute to the law in question, it consisting only of general or widespread belief. Any such enactment is an instance of what Mrs. Eddy has described as "self-constituted law" (Science and Health, p. 229, marginal heading).

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