From Letters, Substantially as Published

There is in your issue of May 24 a report of a sermon...

Evening Sentinel

There is in your issue of May 24 a report of a sermon which gives your readers such an erroneous impression of the teachings of Christian Science regarding sin that I am sure you will be pleased to allow space in an early issue for a corrective and informative statement. In this report, the speaker is quoted as stating: "Christian Science would tell us that sin is a negation. ... We as true followers cannot regard it thus lightly as a negation and settle back to a passive attitude of disregard."

The Christian Scientist does not "settle back to a passive attitude of disregard." Rather, like the student of mathematics or music, he works to overcome the mistakes, errors, and discords. Does either the mathematician or the musician accept the errors or discords as real? Not at all! Nor do they study to improve the error. Rather, by diligent study and practice, are harmony and perfection attained. Is it not plain that so long as the reality of sin is taught by our religious leaders, just so long will the task of overcoming that which seems real be appalling?

The Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, points the way in many passages. I have selected one from her Message to The Mother Church for 1901 (p. 14): "To overcome all wrong, it must become unreal to us: and it is good to know that wrong has no divine authority; therefore man is its master. I rejoice in the scientific apprehension of this grand verity."

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