Article September 16, 1939 Issue

Overcoming Erroneous Habits

KATHLEEN O'CONNOR

The newcomer to Christian Science may read with mixed feelings Mrs. Eddy's arresting statement in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 454), "The use of tobacco or intoxicating drinks is not in harmony with Christian Science." Sometimes his first reaction is to rebel against such an unequivocal dictum—more especially, perhaps, as regards smoking—on the grounds that he considers it too rigid and puritanical for modern times. That it is not a health-giving habit; that it is wasteful; that it is often indulged in by those ill able to afford it, or by those who could at least find a better use for the money expended; that men and women in too many cases become slaves to the habit, will probably be readily admitted by most people. That it is based on illusion might not be quite so willingly conceded, but this is none the less true in the light of Christian Science. Indeed, careful and impartial investigation shows the use of tobacco to be devoid of any constructive aspect, and of no real profit to anyone.

The earnest student of Christian Science will not have progressed very far in his demonstration of the truth about God and man in His image, before he awakens to the fact that to indulge a false sense of self is to break the First Commandment, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me"—God, Spirit. He remembers, perhaps, the words of a much-loved hymn,

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