Radio Station WMBM
Miami Beach, Florida

Recently an individual broadcasting on this station, in trying to answer a question on the seeming reality of death, brought into his remarks some comments about the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, and her teachings. In order that those who listened to this program may have some correct information about Christian Science, and in the spirit of fairness, Station WMBM has given me fifteen minutes to clarify some of the misconceptions which may have been caused by the earlier broadcast. I am happy to thank the management of WMBM for this courtesy.

As many of you know, Christian Scientists daily study the King James Version of the Holy Bible in conjunction with the writings of Mary Baker Eddy. There has never been any question of Christian Scientists worshiping Mrs. Eddy, but they do entertain a very deep sense of gratitude to her for her purity of thought, devotion of purpose, and consecration to God, which enabled her to give her gift of Christian Science to the world.

It is intersting to note that the first important point, or religious tenet of this denomination, as found in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, reads as follows (p. 497): "As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life." Thus every student of Christian Science recognizes that his religion is based squarely on the teachings of the Holy Bible.

The use of the words real and unreal in Christian Science should be clearly understood. In the last verse of the first chapter of Genesis we read, "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good." Surely this is a definite indication of the fact that the creation of God, Spirit, does not include sin, disease, or death, which are obviously not good, not God-created, and therefore they are designated as unreal in Christian Science.

A young pupil in the classroom might write on the blackboard in clear, bold figures, 20+10=40. Despite the apparent actuality of the statement, the teacher and the more alert pupils would know that it was false—untrue and unreal because it is incorrect and not susceptible of proof. We hear it said that seeing is believing, but this is not so when we look down a long, straight stretch of railroad track and apparently see the rails converge. Experience has shown us that the rails are just as far apart in the distance as at the point where we are standing.

One of the encouraging statements made by Christ Jesus, the master Christian, is found in the tenth chapter of John (verse 10), where we find these words: "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

Jesus proved his words by his healing ministry, even as Christian Science does today. When Jesus brought Lazarus forth from the tomb, did he not show with unquestionable proof that his understanding of life as real and supreme demonstrated the unreality of death? Was this not also true when he raised the son of the widow of Nain and the daughter of the ruler of the synagogue?

You may recall that in the latter instance, although Jesus had been told that the child was dead, he indicated his understanding of the unreality of death by stating that "the maid is not dead, but sleepeth." You will also remember that those who were present, not understanding Jesus' clear perception of the eternality of life and therefore the reason for his words denying the evidence of the physical senses which pointed to death, "laughed him to scorn." That unbelief and ridicule did not deter Jesus from restoring the child to normal activity.

When Jesus sent forth his disciples, he instructed them to "heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils" (Matt. 10:8). Certainly if Jesus had considered sickness and death to be God-sent and real, he would not have commanded his followers to cast them out, and so to prove their unreality. It is on the basis of the supremacy and the all-power and reality of God and His good creation that Christian Science is today healing all manner of discord and disease by purely spiritual means, as Jesus healed them.

If Jesus had considered death to be real and the master of life, could he have stepped forth from the tomb as its victor? Never! It was because he recognized God, Life, as supreme, omnipotent, and ever present that he was able to make this mighty demonstration of the power of Life to raise men from the belief of death. Let us never forget this statement (John 8:51): "If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death."

In Science and Health (p. 483) Mrs. Eddy writes: "Because the Science of Mind seems to bring into dishonor the ordinary scientific schools, which wrestle with material observations alone, this Science has met with oppostion; but if any system honors God, it ought to receive aid, not opposition, from all thinking persons. And Christian Science does honor God as no other theory honors Him, and it does this in the way of His appointing, bydoing many wonderful works through the divine name and nature." And a little farther on: "Christianity will never be based on a divine Principle and so found to be unerring, until its absolute Science is reached. When this is accomplished, neither pride, prejudice, bigotry, nor envy can wash away its foundation, for it is built upon the rock, Christ."

Has not the time come for Christians, the followers of Christ Jesus, to think more as he did and to recognize God, Spirit, as real? As this is done, the false, material aspect, with its beliefs of loss, lack, limitation, sin, sickness, and death, will be found powerless to take from man, God's image, his heritage of joy, dominion, spiritual ascendancy, and eternal life.