Article November 25, 1933 Issue

I am impelled to ask your indulgence in affording space...

Cyril R. Hewson, Committee on Publication for Derbyshire, England,

Buxton Advertiser

I am impelled to ask your indulgence in affording space for a further reply to your correspondent on this subject [Christian Science], inasmuch as he persists in quoting detached passages from the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, in support of theories which her books, taken as a whole, do not teach. Such a practice, to say the least, is misleading. Because of the inevitable difficulty of expressing spiritual facts in human language Mrs. Eddy had perforce, following the usage of several Scriptural writers, to employ the same word to express different shades of meaning. Thus she uses the word "man" in referring to the spiritual real man and also with reference to the material sense of man, the correct meaning being determinable by the context. In support of his contention that "spiritual" man can fail properly to reflect his Maker, your correspondent quotes a passage from Science and Health. It is noteworthy, however, that the whole chapter from which this quotation is culled deals with the suppositional claim of evil to govern humanity, that is, the human or material sense of man, and the passage does not refer to man from the spiritual standpoint. Evil does not even claim to govern spiritual man, since the essence of evil lies in the supposition that man is material.

A correct understanding of the teaching of Christian Science on these fundamental points is essential to a proper demonstration of it, whereas an attempt to demonstrate it on any other basis is something more than merely futile. Hence my recommendation in my last letter of a sincere study of the Christian Science textbook itself rather than acceptance of personal interpretations thereof.

The following passages which appear on page 336 of Science and Health state the absolute truth with regard to man and form part of the only scientific platform for demonstration: "Immortal man was and is God's image or idea, even the infinite expression of infinite Mind, and immortal man is coexistent and coeternal with that Mind." "The spiritual man's consciousness and individuality are reflections of God. They are the emanations of Him who is Life, Truth, and Love. Immortal man is not and never was material, but always spiritual and eternal." A realization, in some measure, of this truth is the appearing to human consciousness of the spiritual facts of being, which eliminate the mortal sense in proportion to the realization. The elimination of this false sense is accompanied by the disappearance of its concomitants, namely, sin, fear, disease, poverty, and death, from human experience. This is what is known as Christian Science healing; and its method is purely spiritual.

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