Christ Jesus regarded healing by spiritual means as a necessary evidence of one's understanding of his teachings. He commanded his followers to heal the sick, and they did. Only later did Christians digress, placing their faith more and more in material remedies. Since 1866, however, Christian Science has with consistent results restored the method of spiritual healing practiced by Jesus.

This Science gives a broad meaning to the word "healing," extending it to include the cure of anything that would adversely affect one bodily or mentally—for example, addiction to drugs, smoking, and alcoholic beverages. It frees from immorality and from troubles of every kind, including money and relationship worries.

The purpose of Christian Science is to spiritualize human life with the understanding of Truth and Love, which Jesus exemplified. The Christian Scientist's entire experience is benefited by this spiritual way of thinking, and physical healing is one small part of the benefit.

Nevertheless, this movement has received much of its impetus from the loyalty of members who were healed after they had been given up as incurable. Having turned to Christian Science treatment as a last resort, they were restored to healthful, useful lives. The Christian Science Journal, Christian Science Sentinel, and The Herald of Christian Science contain documented examples of such healings, as does the book A Century of Christian Science Healing—all of which are available at Christian Science Reading Rooms.

A question people often ask is: How does this Science heal? Through prayer. Through knowing and doing God's will. Through denying evil's validity.

There is no record that Jesus or his disciples ever used or advocated drugs for healing anyone. They used spiritual means alone, and Christian Science follows their example. Christian Scientists have great respect for physicians of integrity; they prefer healing by spiritual means not only because of greater confidence in its efficacy and its unchanging divine Principle but also because this Science leaves the patient in better condition mentally and morally as well as physically. To a Christian Scientist, healing is evidence of spiritual uplift. Spirituality is the cause; healing, the effect.

Physical diseases are the effects of mental causes, which Christian Science corrects. Because God, good, is really the only cause, any other cause is actually without reality. In this light, physicians are seen to be dealing primarily not with causes but with effects.

Practitioners listed in the Journal are available to help people in need, and a complete explanation of Christian Science healing is available in the textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. Reading this book has healed many. Mrs. Eddy writes: "Although this volume contains the complete Science of Mind-healing, never believe that you can absorb the whole meaning of the Science by a simple perusal of this book. The book needs to be studied, and the demonstration of the rules of scientific healing will plant you firmly on the spiritual groundwork of Christian Science." ^{Science and Health, p. 147;}

"Ye shall know the truth," Jesus said, "and the truth shall make you free." ^{John 8:32.} This is the process by which Christian Science relieves the human mind of erroneous mortal beliefs and fear and replaces them with sound, spiritual facts. Physical and mental ailments are healed as false beliefs are replaced by an understanding of God's allness and the present perfection of His man—the spiritual man, our actual selfhood.

Read Part 2 and Part 3 of this series.