Article October 22, 1932 Issue

In his address on "The Good and Evil in Christian Science,"...

Charles M. Shaw, Committee on Publication for Lancashire, England,—Heywood

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In his address on "The Good and Evil in Christian Science," published in your issue of the 4th inst., the preacher based his admission of "good" in Christian Science upon the fact that "for over half a century it has preached the gospel of health." This is not a full presentation of Christian Science. Its gospel is an emphasis and explanation of the Scriptural revelation that man is the spiritual image and likeness of God, and that his heritage is life, truth, and love; and that as mortals become conscious of man's real nature and relationship, sin and sickness are overcome, as eventually death will be. Christian Science teaches that disease is primarily a mental condition, due to ignorance, fear, and sin—states which are manifested on the body as disease. We attach importance to the healing of disease because it affords such obvious evidence of the power of God to overcome human ignorance, fear, and sin.

Mrs. Eddy writes in the 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 beenmy only authority." Her claim to inspiration was warranted by Scripture: "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever," and, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: . . . and he will shew you things to come." Christian Scientists revere Mrs. Eddy, for there are thousands upon thousands who, having failed to obtain the help they needed from orthodox religion and medicine, have received it through Christian Science.

The statement that Christian Science has nothing to say about the fatherhood of God or the brotherhood of man, looks upon Jesus only as the great healer, and has nothing to say about his ethical and social teaching, proves conclusively that the preacher has not read the Christian Science textbook and therefore is not competent to pass intelligent judgment upon it. In that book there are many statements of varying length setting forth the fatherhood of God and others setting forth the brotherhood of man; while these two great facts are indirectly referred to and assumed all through the book. The following statement is typical (p. 467): "It should be thoroughly understood that all men have one Mind, one God and Father, one Life, Truth, and Love. Mankind will become perfect in proportion as this fact becomes apparent, war will cease and the true brotherhood of man will be established."

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In his address on "The Good and Evil in Christian Science,"...

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