Editorial October 8, 1932 Issue

The Starting Point of Christian Science

Duncan Sinclair

Sometimes the beginner in Christian Science will ask the more experienced Christian Scientist how one should start to solve one's problem. He, the beginner, may be sick or a victim of sin, and be desirous of gaining his freedom—yes, be yearning for release; or perhaps he is finding himself under the spell of business depression, with little or nothing to do and proportionately little to meet his human needs. People with all kinds of problems come to Christian Science for help, inquiring as to how they should begin the study of the subject with the view of obtaining a solution of them. It is right that it should be this way. Beginners in any subject are naturally inquirers. What, then, could be more reasonable than that those who are taking the first steps in divine Science should seek the guidance of those whose understanding of it is greater than theirs?

The Christian Science practitioner never hesitates to direct beginners to the Christian Science textbooks, the Bible and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, since there the truth is revealed which, when understood and applied, will meet every difficulty—the truth about God and man and divine law. The practitioner knows the value of Science and Health, knows that it is inspired throughout, and that it unfolds healing for the woes of mankind. He remembers this when he directs anyone to it, whether he may say so or not. Indeed, it is characteristic of the Christian Science practitioner that he possesses complete confidence in Science and Health, unshakable reliance on the spiritual truth it reveals.

Now in Science and Health, from beginning to end, the omnipresence, and omniscience of God are declared—even the allness of God. At the same time, and as a deduction from the fact of God's allness, the unreality of evil —that which appears to exist as the opposite of good—is taught. It is essential for the beginner to realize in some measure the truth of the allness of God as Truth, Life, Love, Principle; for thus does he make a start in comprehending the nothingness of evil, that which he is desirous of getting rid of in some form. Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health (p. 351), "We cannot bring out the practical proof of Christianity, which Jesus required, while error seems as potent and real to us as Truth, and while we make a personal devil and an anthropomorphic God our starting-points,—especially if we consider Satan as a being coequal in power with Deity, if not superior to Him." We must, indeed, be whole-heartedly on the side of Truth, even as was the Psalmist when he wrote, "God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God."

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Man's Capacity
October 8, 1932
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