Article July 22, 1967 Issue

The Preventive Art of Christian Science

ROBERT J. HILL

Mrs. Eddy states, "The prophylactic and therapeutic (that is, the preventive and curative) arts belong emphatically to Christian Science, as would be readily seen, if psychology, or the Science of Spirit, God, was understood."^{Science and Health, p. 369;}

A clear instance of the power of Truth to prevent disease was experienced by a student of Christian Science while he was living on a yacht in a southern port. The Bible Lesson in the Christian Science Quarterly for that week included several selections which dealt with the powerlessness of food to harm man. One selection from the Bible told how Elisha changed the belief about a pot of poisoned gourds and rendered it harmless. And another selection was this command: "Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake."^{I Cor. 10:25;} The lesson also included these words by Mrs. Eddy: "If mortals think that food disturbs the harmonious functions of mind and body, either the food or this thought must be dispensed with, for the penalty is coupled with the belief."^{Science and Health, pp. 388, 389;}

That evening the Scientist and a friend went to a nearby restaurant where they ate identical meals. The following morning his friend telephoned to say that he had been in great distress all night. Two doctors on his boat were treating him for food poisoning. The purpose of the call was to arrange to send the doctors to treat the Christian Scientist also. When the student informed him that he felt fine and had no need for such attention, the friend was incredulous and sent the doctors anyway. They perceived at once, however, that there was no need for their services and departed.

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