Article March 15, 2010 Issue

TREATING WITH CERTAINTY

BY NATE TALBOT

PERHAPS ONE OF THE BOLDEST STATEMENTS in Mary Baker Eddy's Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures is this claim: "Guided by divine Truth and not guesswork, the theologus (that is, the student—the Christian and scientific expounder—of the divine law) treats disease with more certain results than any other healer on the globe" (p. 459).

The author knew she was writing this not alone for her day, but for the decades, even the centuries. Some might grant that when she wrote it, medical care was, by today's standards, quite primitive. But what about today's miracle drugs, modern surgical procedures, even some exotic practice of which she was totally unaware? Is her claim realistic for the future? Everywhere on the planet?

Developing statistics to back up the statement may be daunting. Trying to disprove it may be impossible. Actually her words could have been written for a purpose far deeper than comparisons. They are written in a context. They appear in a chapter titled "Teaching Christian Science." And the chapter is in a book intended to convey, for those prepared to receive it, a revelation of ultimate healing practice. This practice includes full salvation from mortality. No other practice of healing makes such a claim.

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