In a recent issue of the Dominion, an article appeared...

Arthur E. F. Court, Committee on Publication for the North Island of New Zealand,—Wellington

Dominion

In a recent issue of the Dominion, an article appeared dealing with "Faith Healing." Its scope was very wide, ranging over more than twenty different varieties by name. Christian Science was referred to in these words: "Christian Science holds that pain is an illusion, and seeks to cure the patient by instilling into him this belief." This statement is inaccurate, and while I am not concerned with the other examples mentioned, I should greatly appreciate the privilege of correcting this misstatement.

Christian Science is not faith healing as that term is generally understood and as set out in the sentence just quoted. Nor has it any connection with the cures of many of the persons and superstitions cited in the article. In a book recently published in London, Professor Eddington is quoted thus: "Substance is one of the greatest of our illusions," and he goes on to say that "appearances when analyzed reveal deeper truths." It would be foolish to attempt to the almost universal belief in solid material substance by instilling into the thought of individuals a belief in substance as illusion; it would be necessary to prove that statement and its consequents.

The Christian Scientist accepts the Bible statement that God, and God alone, is the creator of all reality. The creator could not possibly create His opposite, but must produce only what is contained in divine Mind. Therefore, as divine Mind, being perfectly good, does not contain sin, disease, or pain, the Christian Scientist claims with unassailable logic that these evils can be only illusions and are not the reality of existence as created by God.

The statement in Genesis that "God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good," confirms this claim, and the clear understanding of the nature of God and His spiritual creation as revealed in Christian Science, and not the acceptance of a belief, is what heals. The infallible lens of Christ Jesus' teaching will show the nothingness of seeming inharmonious conditions, and reveal the deeper truths of spiritual life and being which make and keep men free. This is quite different from faith healing.

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