INTERVIEWER: Recently an interesting article on spiritual healing appeared in the publication, Pastoral Psychology. The author, Charles R. Feilding, noted that it is confusing to speak of spiritual healing in terms of methods of healing. He said: "Spiritual healing is rather to be understood as the healing of the relationship implied by the word spiritual, namely, that between man and God." (© 1964, by Pastoral Psychology, Manhasset, N. Y.) How do you feel about that?

SPEAKER: I agree that it is misleading to speak of all nonphysical or mental methods of healing as spiritual healing. As Christian Scientists see it, spiritual healing is related directly to the power of God, divine Spirit.

We do not think of spiritual healing in terms of healing a relationship between God and man but rather of understanding man's unchanging, eternal relationship with divine Spirit, God. Healing based on such understanding is what we regard as being totally spiritual.

INTERVIEWER: What does the word "spiritual" mean to you?

SPEAKER: Recently a minister, who is a friend of mine, spoke of hate, lust, and envy as being spiritual qualities, meaning that they were mental qualities. I was interested to find that according to his concept, which may be a popular concept, the word "spiritual" is intended to mean that which is simply not physical. But in Christian Science "spiritual" is used exclusively to mean that which is derived from God, that which is akin to the nature of God, to the qualities of God. Therefore in our concept of the term "spiritual" we mean that which has no relationship to corporeality: it has no relationship to the human mind. It relates only to the qualities of divine Mind, of God, infinite Spirit.

On this basis, then, we find spiritual understanding of God and the spiritual worship of Him to be inseparable in terms of spiritual healing. The greatest exponent of spiritual healing, Christ Jesus, said (John 4:24), "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." Now, Christian Scientists understand this to mean that we must worship God in His nature as infinite Spirit, as eternal Truth.

So when we refer to spiritual healing, we are actually talking about God's power to heal—to make His law and His presence manifest in the human experience. To the Christian Scientist. God is always and exclusively the only healer.

INTERVIEWER: Do you mean literally that God does the healing?

SPEAKER: Yes, I mean that literally. The human mind is not the healer. Human beings are not healers. God is the healer. Jesus himself said (John 5:30). "I can of mine own self do nothing." Now, God Himself is eternal. His power is eternal. God is omnipresent. He is all-presence and always present.

INTERVIEWER: If as you are suggesting, this power exists, then how do we go about tapping it.

SPEAKER: Well, we "tap" it by understanding the spiritual facts, by understanding God's own nature as infinite Spirit, ever-present Love, divine, unvarying Truth, and by understanding what this really means. When we understand God, we begin then to understand man's true, unchanging, undying, eternal, spiritual nature as the child of God.

Now understanding what man's true nature is actually brings about a spiritual transformation of thought. This is the spiritual rebirth which Christ Jesus referred to when he said (John 3:3): "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Christian Science does not teach the power of the human mind over matter or the power of mere positive thinking. Christian Science teaches the power of God divine Mind, divine Spirit, over matter, and the superiority of spiritual power over what appears to be physical power.

Maybe an illustration will help bring this into focus. We know, for example, that right here with us in this room there are radio waves which we do not hear because we do not have a radio plugged in and turned on and tuned in. But we know from experience that the waves are present with us. Now if we tune in a radio properly, we will be able to receive the message that is coming from the radio station. In somewhat the same way, as we change from basing our thinking on material observation, material theories, and complete physicality to recognizing God as the cause, the creator, the only source, of all that is real—in other words, transforming our thinking from a material to a spiritual basis —then in a sense we tune in on the ever-present Christ. We are changing our thought, so we are receptive to the presence and power of the Christ.

And actually it is the Christ, God's own power, which produces the transformation that takes place in the human consciousness. This spiritual transformation in consciousness has the effect of transforming the body and results in what we call spiritual healing.

In one of her books Mary Baker Eddy says (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 15). "Nothing aside from the spiritualization—yea, the highest Christianization—of thought and desire, can give the true perception of God and divine Science, that results in health, happiness, and holiness." And then she adds: "The new birth is not the work of a moment. It begins with moments, and goes on with years; moments of surrender to God, of childlike trust and joyful adoption of good; moments of self-abnegation, self-consecration, heaven-born hope, and spiritual love."

INTERVIEWER: While this transformation is taking place, would Christian Scientists consider being cured by medical means?

SPEAKER: No, the earnest student ol Christian Science recognizes that in order to he able to grow in his understanding, he must be consistent in his reliance upon Truth, upon God.

The experience of a Christian Science friend of mine may help answer this question. This woman found herself with quite a serious challenge; a painful and ugly growth which persisted for many months had appeared on her thumb; she was told that the growth was malignant. She was earnest in her efforts to bring about a healing through prayer, but the healing did not come promptly.

One day in discussing this situation her husband, who is a Christian Science practitioner, aroused her to see that spiritual healing calls for spiritual activity, a deep change of thought, a spiritual transformation of thought, or rebirth. This awakened her. She changed her thought from letting it rest upon the distressing condition on her thumb. And instead, she began to contemplate the real meaning of spiritual growth, which she understood to mean spiritual development or a constant spiritual unfoldment of divine Truth.

She kept holding to the truth that her real being was firmly established in her relationship to God and that it could not include anything unlike God, unlike Spirit. She was persistent about this. In about three days, following this transformation which took place in her thought, the pain was completely gone, and the ugly condition had completely disappeared. But, you know, the healing, which has been permanent, meant much more to her than physical soundness; it gave her a lasting appreciation of what the word "spiritual" actually means.