At the annual meeting of the American Neurological Association,...

Arthur G. Lothgren, Committee on Publication for the Province of British Columbia, Canada,

Victoria Daily Times

At the annual meeting of the American Neurological Association, as reported in your columns of June 21, a doctor made two references to Christian Science which require correction and explanation, in order that the readers of your esteemed paper may not be misinformed by his remarks.

When he included Christian Science in his classification of "humbug" and "pseudo medicine" methods and stated that they "have a long list of unjust diagnoses to answer for," he implied that the practice of Christian Science included a physical diagnosis. This is incorrect.

A medical or physical diagnosis was not included in the healing method of our Master and great physician, Christ Jesus, but the Scriptures do record that he discerned the wrong thinking of a patient as well as the wrong thinking of those who surrounded the patient. An example of this is narrated in the account of the healing of the palsied man in Matthew 9, as well as Jesus' words in Mark 7, as follows: "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man." He healed sin, sickness, poverty, depression, unhappiness, and all other forms of discord by the same method, and he prescribed and insisted that his way was the only way of salvation from the troubles of the flesh. His remedy was, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Reformation of thought is the basis upon which Christian Science heals. "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he." And Christian Science healing is in accord with the teachings of Christ Jesus, while medical practice is based on a correct medical diagnosis, according to leading authorities on the subject.

In Christian Science practice suggestion is not employed, for, according to the teachings of Christian Science, suggestion is based on the operation of the so-called human mind and is a cause rather than a cure of disease.

Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, defines the prayer that brings healing, in her opening chapter on Prayer in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," in these words (p. 1): "The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God,—a spiritual understanding of Him, an unselfed love."

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