One needs to have but a slight knowledge of Mrs. Eddy's...

A. J. Chapman

The Shreveport (La.) Times

One needs to have but a slight knowledge of Mrs. Eddy's life to know that in no one thing was she more successful than in the elimination of her personality from the movement. Christian Science is undoubtedly different from all other religions based on the Bible, in its interpretations of the Bible, its fundamental teachings, and its practice, and it has not found, nor will it ever find, it necessary to attack and denounce other religious denominations as a means of promoting its own. In fact, Christian Scientists are grateful that Mrs. Eddy, when writing the by-laws to govern The Mother Church, wisely made a provision to prevent this.

Mrs. Eddy never claimed any special or private revelation other than that which came through inspiration as a result of her consecrated study of the Scriptures, which enabled her to grasp their spiritual meaning. The critic quotes her as saying: "You don't have to worry over sin or suffering in humanity, because it does not exist. Go ahead as if it were not there." This statement is far from the teachings of Christian Science, and cannot be found in any of her writings. In the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," on page 210 she says, "To mortal sense, sin and suffering are real, but immortal sense includes no evil nor pestilence." Christian Science teaches that while sin and suffering seem very real to the human senses, from the standpoint of God they have no basis or reality, and their seeming reality can be destroyed by a right understanding of man as God's image and likeness. It declares that sin and disease are manifestations of the mortal or carnal mind, which the Bible says "is enmity against God."

Most writers on the Scriptures agree that the first book of the Bible contains both a spiritual and a material account of creation, and it is the second, or material version, to which Mrs. Eddy refers as an allegory. Adam, representing the material creation, or the opposite of spirituality, stands in Christian Science for all that is unlike God.

Christian Science accepts the Scriptures in their entirety, and declares that in order to understand the truth contained therein they must be interpreted spiritually. It also declares that the Bible is an inspired book, and in some measure, at least, Christian Scientists are able to prove this fact by healing the sick, in accord with the command of our Master as taught therein.

The Christian Science textbook, among other definitions, refers to God as Principle; and in order to exemplify His unchangeable and eternal nature, Mrs. Eddy uses mathematics as an illustration. It is clear that one cannot work out a problem in the science of numbers if he fails to apply the rule of mathematics, and it is also clear that we must necessarily fail to find God in our search for Him, unless we realize the nature and quality of His being.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit