The Chronicle in a recent issue...

Samuel Taylor,—Old Cumnock

Cumnock Chronicle,

The Chronicle in a recent issue contained a report of an address, in the course of which it is stated that "Brahmanism and Christian Science say that pain is only a delusion." Whether the statement is or is not correct about Brahmanism, I am not competent to say. But I should like to make it clear that the religion of Christian Science is quite distinct from Brahmanism, and therefore has no relationship to it. The declarations of Christian Science are based on the fundamental Christian teachings enunciated by the master Christian, Christ Jesus, and are being fully and authentically demonstrated every day and every hour.

Whilst the reverend gentleman is right in stating that Christian Science regards pain as a delusion, to be correctly understood and its truth recognized the statement needs explanation. Christian Science stands squarely on the truth of God's spiritual creation of the universe, including man, as recorded in the first chapter of Genesis; and as we read in John 1:3, "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made," we know that God was the sole crefirst chapter of Genesis declares,

"And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good." This spiritual record of the divine creation also declares, "God created man in his own image," and since God is good, as Christ Jesus stated (Matt. 19:17), there can be nothing in man's true being, actually or potentially, resembling pain or disease. Speaking of disease, Christ Jesus indicates its delusive nature when, referring to the woman who had had an infirmity eighteen years, he spoke of her as one "whom Satan hath bound" (Luke 13:16)—Satan, the devil, who, he said (John 8:44), was "a liar, and the father of it" (the lie). So Christian Science regards all suffering as a lie with which Satan seeks to bind mortal man through wrong thinking.

Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, states in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 68): "It is unchristian to believe that pain and sickness are anything but illusions. My proof of this is, that the penalty for believing in their reality is the very pain and disease. Jesus cast out a devil, and the dumb spake; hence it is right to know that the works of Satan are the illusion and error which Truth casts out." Christ Jesus said (John 8:31, 32), "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Surely that means freedom from suffering and disease, as well as all other effects of erroneous belief inimical to man's well-being.

While the foregoing is true, Christian Scientists also realize that, as Mrs. Eddy has said in her principal work, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 460): "Sickness is neither imaginary nor unreal,—that is, to the frightened, false sense of the patient. Sickness is more than fancy; it is solid conviction." When that conviction is changed to correct understanding of man's divine perfection, as the image and likeness of his perfect Father, God, the illusion of suffering and disease disappears.

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September 26, 1942

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