Article June 2, 1934 Issue

The teachings of Christian Science are both Christian...

Address by Albert E. Lombard, Committee on Publication for Southern California, before the School of Religion of the University of Southern California, —December 4, 1933

The teachings of Christian Science are both Christian and scientific. They are Christian because they are Christlike and follow the instruction and example of Christ Jesus; and they are scientific because they present knowledge that is exact and provable. These teachings start with Mrs. Eddy's definition of "God," which is as follows: "The great I am; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal; Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love; all substance; intelligence" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 587). In accord with this, Christian Science teaches that the heavenly Father-Mother is incorporeal, is Spirit; that He lovingly cares for all of His children; that He created both spiritual and perfect all that was made; and that He never made matter. On the basis of these premises Christian Science concludes properly that God's gifts to men are spiritual, not material. As the sun knows no darkness, so God, Spirit, knows no matter. To put these statements in Jesus' words, "It is the spirit that quickeneth: the flesh profiteth nothing."

The perfect God, the only cause and creator, all-power and all-presence, is infinite good. All good comes from Him; He is continually sending forth good, and good alone. The Bible says, "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good." This divine Giver of all good is worthy of the love of mankind, and we cannot properly attribute calamities to Him.

In Science and Health (p. 517) we read, "Love imparts the clearest idea of Deity." There is nothing emotional about this concept of God as Love. Sentimentality, sensualism, animal attraction, and such like have no relation to God, and therefore have no place in Christian Science. They are mesmeric effects and are the opposites of divine Love. On the other hand, the pure mother-love, which shows unselfish devotion to a child, symbolizes the love of God.

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