Letters to the Press

From Christian Science Committees on Publication

Hogarth W. Eastman

The Courier

The Courier
Ballarat, Victoria, Australia

The report (Courier 7-7-76) headed "Priest Slams Faith Healer in Ballarat" associates Christian Science with the questionable activities of that healer. The article also contains reported statements by [the priest] on the basic teachings of Christian Science.

Although the faith healer is not named, he is certainly not a Christian Scientist. It is true that Christian Science practitioners are available to the public for healing through prayer, but their services must be sought by the patient and the healing is always on a strictly individual basis. The Christian Science practitioner endeavours to open his heart and mind—as well as that of the patient—to the love, the power and the ever-presence of God. As the Christian Scientist understands it, it is the power of God alone that heals.

As the article intimates, the teachings of Christian Science were publicly stated in 1875 when Mary Baker Eddy published the first edition of her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. However, the article goes on to mis-state a number of these teachings.

Christian Science does not teach that "Christianity was founded primarily to give mankind perfect physical and mental health."

What it does teach, however, is that well-being is a natural byproduct of a deeply Christian commitment to God, living in accordance with His laws. And, as with all Christian denominations, salvation from sin is fundamental to the teachings of Christian Science.

A reading of Science and Health will show that Christian Science specifically rejects the use of any form of human mind manipulation for healing or any other purpose. Far from controlling the patient through hypnotism, the Christian Scientist seeks to help free the patient to fully express his God-given individuality. A Christian Scientist found using hypnotism would lose his church membership.

Christian Scientists choose to rely on God, without the use of medicine, for healing. They feel, along with Jeremiah, "Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise" (Jer. 17:14). But they do not seek to impose their approach on others who do not wish it. And they respect and appreciate the work of doctors.

The Christian Science approach to healing is succinctly summarised in the following statement in Science and Health: "The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God,—a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love."

Hogarth W. Eastman
Committee on Publication

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit