Article August 5, 1939 Issue

In Rogaland recently a correspondent takes up the defense...

Nils A. T. Lerche, Committee on Publication for Norway,—Stavanger (translation)

Rogaland

In Rogaland recently a correspondent takes up the defense of Christian Science. This writer displays a tolerant and understanding attitude towards those of differing views, which is very sympathetic. However, he also says things about Christian Science which are not correct; therefore I should like to offer some information.

This correspondent writes that Christian Science is built on suggestion, and that prayer (in the common meaning of the word) does not exist in the movement. This is a great mistake. In Mary Baker Eddy's book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," the entire first chapter deals with prayer, and one may here find some of the most profound views ever written about this subject.

"Suggestion" means that one human mind influences another, an influence which may be both good and evil. To use suggestion is contrary to Christian Science and has nothing to do with its results. "Prayer" always refers to man's relation to God. A desire to be good is a prayer; an appeal to God for help is a prayer. But the highest form of prayer is not to implore God as one would implore a human being, although even that sometimes may give results. The highest form of prayer is that one which, through enlightened faith and spiritual understanding, comes into accord with God in grateful acknowledgment of His omnipotence and all-embracing love, as when Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus in full certainty could say: "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always." Jesus also once said, "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." This is not suggestion, but a statement built on knowledge of spiritual law, of man's true selfhood and its relation to God.

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