Article May 6, 1933 Issue

A clergyman recently broadcast a sermon from your...

Robert C. Humphrey, Committee on Publication for the State of Georgia, in a radiocast from Station WGST,—Atlanta

A clergyman recently broadcast a sermon from your station, and, as reported, during his discourse made references to Christian Science which should be clarified. The clergyman said in substance that "Christian Science is forced to deny the existence of all concrete forms of matter; but that most of us know, apart from reasoning, that there is such a thing as matter."

At the outset, permit me to say that there would be much less difference of opinion as to the reality or unreality of matter and disease if all who inquire into the subject would consider what is denoted by the word "real" and what is taught by philosophy or natural science regarding the nature of matter. Among the meanings of the word "real" in Webster's New International Dictionary is the following: "Actual, as distinguished from fictitious or imaginary." Consistently with this definition, Christian Science regards only spiritual facts, Spirit and spiritual being, as real, in distinction from that which is "fictitious or imaginary"; from which premise Christian Science certainly does teach that matter is not real. And does not the Bible do so? In John's first epistle we read: "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof."

The foundation upon which Jesus built and which governed his teachings and demonstrations, was that God, Spirit, is the only cause and creator of the universe and man. Creation, then, must be spiritual and eternal, for God, Spirit, could not create that which is the opposite of Himself. He did not create matter. Matter is unknown in the universe of Spirit, and is no part of God's creation. Indeed, there is nothing in the first chapter of Genesis to prove that the creation spoken of is material. On the contrary, there is evidence that the real creation is spiritual. God created light, as recorded on "the first day" of His creation. Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes on page 504 of her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures": "This light is not from the sun nor from volcanic flames, but it is the revelation of Truth and of spiritual ideas. This also shows that there is no place where God's light is not seen, since Truth, Life, and Love fill immensity and are everpresent. Was not this a revelation instead of a creation?"

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

A clergyman recently broadcast a sermon from your...

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access