Article January 1, 1979 Issue

Health through exercise or godliness?

GRANT C. BUTLER

In view of the increasing interest today in exercise clinics, health spas, and physical culture programs, where does the Christian Scientist stand on the subject of physical exercise? Since his religion finds its authority in the Bible, he accepts as sensible advice these words in I Timothy 4:8: "Bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things."

Does this mean that he shuns normal exercise or participation in individual and group sports? Not at all. Christian Scientists have won medals and trophies in many sports, and most enjoy some such activity as a part of normal living. But they do not look to physical exercise, pills, and diets as means of maintaining health or regulating weight.

When through the study of Christian Science we begin to recognize ourselves as spiritual ideas of God, we come to know infinite Spirit as the true substance of our being and the real environment in which we live. Then we understand that the only activity important to our present—and eternal—well-being is the expression of godliness, our native spirituality, which comes to light through the daily, hourly knowing of the truths this Science reveals.

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