Editorial February 24, 1968 Issue

A Laboratory Experiment?

William Milford Correll

In an age of research, when laboratory experiments are the generally accepted mode of developing scientific data, it may be asked: Can we have a laboratory experiment in Christian Science healing where observers can trace the progress of healing and measure the effectiveness of treatment according to the same procedures as that of material research? It is interesting to examine the pros and cons of this question and see why such an experiment would not be a feasible way of research in Christian Science.

In the first place, even though the effects of healing take place on the human body, Christian Science healing is not essentially a physical phenomenon. One of the basic premises of this way of healing is that experience is subjective and that one is dealing with states of thought rather than material phenomena. It is a change of thought brought about by the healing Christ, the power of divine Love, or God, that restores the human body. This coming of Christ is not observable by the material senses, and hence the procedure is not measurable through the same means as used in physical research.

The healing power of this Science is based upon its theology. The nature of God as divine Truth, omnipotent Spirit, infinite good, is reflected in man as God's image and likeness. Man as God's child is spiritual and perfect. He is always under the government of divine Mind, and this true sense of manhood is the spiritual identity of each individual. As one comes to understand the nature of God and to identify himself as the reflection of God, he increasingly experiences the presence of Christ, the power of God made manifest in human affairs. It is this understanding that destroys fear, which is one of the most prominent causes of disease, and thus heals the human body. One cannot measure the coming of understanding through the medium of the material senses.

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