Article August 6, 1949 Issue

STUDY

JOHN M. TUTT

In the lexicon of the Christian Scientist, a word very often used is "study." And perhaps no word is so inadequately understood. Careless use of the word "study" has tended to restrict it to the mere perusal of what someone has written. This results in a concept of study as the acquiring of knowledge at the hands of another or through the mere reading of a text. The latter is too often entirely fruitless, while the former falls short of the full significance of study. The importance of study surely justifies a comprehensive grasp of what it should mean to that numerous body known as students of Christian Science.

To consider the study of the Bible and of the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, as limited to what one can get from these books, is to consider them an end instead of the means to an end. It is to worship words, or even ideas, instead of the one Mind, God, which produces these ideas. Such consideration of study would rob one of the value of the books, just as the overestimate of words or symbols robs them of their true worth and utility and turns one's feet out of the true path. Is it not quite evident then that if we are to be students of Christian Science, we must enlarge our concept of the word "study" to include all its significance?

Now if one is to acquire knowledge in metaphysics, he cannot escape the absolute fact that there is no getting without giving. Also that giving and getting are one, and that one is giving. Our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, says (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 5), "Wholly apart from this mortal dream, this illusion and delusion of sense, Christian Science comes to reveal man as God's image, His idea, coexistent with Him—God giving all and man having all that God gives." Study cannot be restricted to receiving scientific instruction, whether from a teacher or from a book. It must include giving, primarily. Paul quoted Christ Jesus, who said (Acts 20: 35), "It is more blessed to give than to receive," and surely it is more instructive.

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