Article March 24, 1934 Issue

Christian Science

HART WOOD

On page 483 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy writes: "After the author's sacred discovery, she affixed the name 'Science' to Christianity, the name 'error' to corporeal sense, and the name 'substance' to Mind. Science has called the world to battle over this issue and its demonstration, which heals the sick, destroys error, and reveals the universal harmony." This passage shows clearly the deep spiritual insight of the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science.

One of the oft-repeated charges made against this new-old religion is that it is not Christian and not scientific. Although this has been refuted many times by able, loyal defenders, it still recurs occasionally. The word "science," we know, is from the Latin verb scire—to know—and in its absolute sense can refer only to Truth; for in the final analysis only that which is true can be known. No amount of belief, no amount of effort, no amount of contention, no amount of persistence will enable one to know anything that is not true. Many things are called scientific which are no more than assumptions, conjectures, or theories. Jesus gave the best test of value when he said, "By their fruits ye shall know them."

No one can reasonably maintain that the marvelous works of Christ Jesus were haphazard, expressing a hit-or-miss theory or an empirical formula. They were the result of his knowing; in other words, of Science. If Jesus had merely guessed or believed that Lazarus "had not died," would he have been able to restore him? Was it Science, or was it guesswork, that raised the daughter of Jairus when the people, "knowing that she was dead," "laughed him to scorn"? Who knew the truth about that situation, Christ Jesus or the scoffers? Were Christ Jesus' healings proof of Science, or were they mysterious phenomena? What did Jesus say on this subject? This: "These signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." "Them that believe"! What is it that shows whether we believe or not? "These signs." "These signs," following, show that we believe. If we believe, to that extent we have demonstrated Christian Science. Certainly, it can be nothing less than knowing which produces such conclusive results.

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