Letters August 23, 1982 Issue

LETTERS TO THE PRESS

From Christian Science Committees on Publication

with contributions from EDWARD K. JONES, DAVID C. SMITH, JOHN DICKSON MARTIN

Mary Baker Eddy writes in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (p. 167), "Only through radical reliance on Truth can scientific healing power be realized." Those who have not experienced God's healing power themselves often find it challenging to believe anyone would freely choose spiritual means alone for healing, instead of relying on medicine. The fact is of course that Christian Scientists do choose to rely wholly on Christian Science for healing. And they make such decisions as intelligent, informed individuals—certainly with no pressure from their Church or fellow Christian Scientists. They choose radical reliance on Truth because they know it is Truth and because they have seen such strong evidence of healing in their own lives.

... Christian Scientists respect the rights of everyone—including fellow members—to make their own decisions, whether it be in the area of politics or the best type of treatment. When a Christian Scientist decides to rely on the power of God for healing, it is not prompted by any denominational coercion, but rather by an inner conviction that Christian healing, as demonstrated in the life of Jesus Christ, ensures the most effective permanent remedy.

Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, which is basic teaching in our Sunday Schools, includes clear guidelines when it comes to respecting our neighbours' rights to freedom of choice: "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them," and "Judge not, that ye be not judged."

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