In Mr.—'s article on Christian Science there are several...

Thomas F. Watson

Hanford (Cal.) Sentinel

In Mr.—'s article on Christian Science there are several misstatements which should be corrected. That the teaching of Christian Science is not a perversion of the Scriptures, as this critic claims, is proved by the many cases of those healed, not only of their physical diseases, but of alcohol, tobacco, and other evil habits, through its ministrations. Mrs. Eddy further states (p. 404): "Healing the sick and reforming the sinner are one and the same thing in Christian Science. Both cures require the same method and are inseparable in Truth."

Christian Science does not teach that sin, sickness, and death are non-existent to material sense, but its teaching that sin, disease, and death do not proceed from God, who is infinite good, coincides with the Scriptural statement that "God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good." Mrs. Eddy has shown very clearly how "sin, sickness, and death are comprised in human material belief, and belong not to the divine Mind" (p. 286). The critic's statement that "the will is a powerful factor in resisting disease," is not the teaching of Christian Science, for Science and Health states, "Human will-power is not Science ... and its use is to be condemned" (p. 144). Healing in Christian Science is accomplished through prayer, and James says, "The prayer of faith shall save the sick."

This critic commends Christian Scientists for their "endeavor to hold fast to the Bible," but declares the teaching of God's omnipresence is "pernicious and unscriptural." The psalmist wrote: "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." And in Jeremiah we read, "Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord." Mrs. Eddy tells us in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 114): "Christian Science teaches: Owe no man; be temperate; abstain from alcohol and tobacco; be honest, just, and pure; cast out evil and heal the sick; in short, Do unto others as ye would have others do to you."

It is not the teaching of Christian Science that "whoever dies merely commits 'mortal error.' " Mrs. Eddy taught plainly that "sin brought death, and death will disappear with the disappearance of sin" (Science and Health, p. 426). The critic asks, "How do our Christian Science friends expect to get everlasting life?" Jesus stated, "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." Then it is plain that eternal life is to be gained not by dying, but by a knowledge or understanding of God. Jesus taught his followers to preach the gospel and heal the sick. Not only in Mark xvi. (which the clergyman says is a later interpolation, and does not belong to the original Greek manuscript), but the whole New Testament is filled with accounts of healing. Not only Jesus and his immediate disciples healed sin and sickness and raised the dead, but their followers did likewise. The early Christians for about three hundred years after Jesus' time continued the work of spiritual healing, yet our critic says, "It is not the divine plan that they be released from sickness and death."

While the "scientific statement of being," on page 468 of Science and Health, may be regarded as an epitome of Christian Science, yet Mrs. Eddy strongly emphasizes the importance of the Lord's Prayer, which, she tells us, "covers all human needs" (p. 16). The proof that Christian Science when understood is not in conflict with the Bible, lies in the fact that the study of Science and Health has made more Bible students than any other book ever written. Any one who will without prejudice read the Christian Science text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, will find that it is based on the Scriptures and is both reasonable and logical.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit