Article December 25, 1971 Issue

Healing by Argument

ROSEMARY COBHAM

Many healings accomplished in Christian Science take place spontaneously and are instantaneous. They come as a flooding into consciousness of the realization of Love's omnipotence and omnipresence, to the utter exclusion of any dark belief of sin or disease.

However, should healing not be instantaneous, the Christian Scientist will not give up; he may usefully resort to healing by argument. These arguments, statements of the truth of harmonious, spiritual being, are specifically tailored to counteract and overthrow the specific claims of error, or material belief, in the case. They should be thorough, comprehensive, and the outcome of complete spiritual conviction. They should include positive denials, as well as positive affirmations.

In the chapter "Christian Science Practice" of the text-book, Science and Health, under the marginal heading "Truthful arguments," Mrs. Eddy writes, "Whatever the belief is, if arguments are used to destroy it, the belief must be repudiated, and the negation must extend to the supposed disease and to whatever decides its type and symptoms."^{Science and Health, p. 418;}