Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-27
SCHOLARSHIPS NOT
UNITED IN FAITH
WRITER BELIEVES LIBERTY
IN SIGHT
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE SoLlDlFIEs
BELIEF
Insists Upon Penetrating Beneath
Superficial Reasoning, and Inter-
pretations Increase Under
standing of Good
BLANCHE Il. HoouE

THE theological world of thought has
held, for many centuries, certain
- fundamental interpretations of
Christ Jesus life and work which have
nodded religious teaching in definite
directions concerning the vital elements
OF salvation. Fixed creedal beliefs have
placed certain constructions upon GER
tain evident truths, and have declared
salvation to be dependent upon the ac-
ceptance of whatever specific belief
may thereby have been outlined as
true. Throughout the ages these be-
liefs have shifted with the changing
viewpoints of the succeeding genera
tions, but at no time has scholastle
theology presented a statement OF
Christian teaching which would COM
pass the complete destruction of sin,
sickness, and eventually. death; nor
have scholastics ever been united in
their concepts of doctrine, or ever
nearer unity of faith than has been m
dicated by innumerable groups OF per-
sonal leaders with their personal fol-
lowings, segregated according to their
differences, and not their concord, OF
opinion.
The Science of Christianity, which
has been brought to the world through
Mrs. Eddy's life-work, rescues rellg-
ious thought from this widely-yarying
confusion of belief, inasmuch as 1t
deals with every point which popular
theology has set forth, and does this
from the basis of science instead OF
from the standpoint of personal opin-
ion. To the accepted belief about sal
walton. whether it be traditional or
modern, Christian Science comes with
a revelation of Principle which unfolds
facts concerning such matters as per-
tain to salvation, and this revealed
knowledge entirely removes from the
question all intellectual speculation,
oil 70 diffarQnNpS and dlSARroe-
1nents The coming of Christian Sci
ence means that a. broader, deeper
sense of Christianity is leavening the
traditions of men, preserving and puri-
flying whatever in them may have peen
good, and demolishing whatever in
them may have been limited or
erroneous.
Doesn't Attack Beliefs
It is sometimes supposed that Chris
tian Science makes direct attack upon
the many forms of doctrinal belief
which mortals have cherished, and that
its teaching has an aggressive atti-
tude toward past and present religious
theories, On the contrary, Christian
Science, Analysing fairly and honestly
every point handled by theology hon.
ors and preserves all that has ever
been true in the field of religion , 1t
has something to say concerning all
the great questions which are dear to
the theologians, and because 1t is the
Science of Christianity 1t deals with
such subjects as the new birth, bap-
tism, conviction of sin, judgment, the
resurrection, the ascension, and all
the features of the sacrament, from
IL mount of revelation, scattering the
valley fogs of confused human opinions
which have for so long shrouded these
questions in mystery.
Thus Christian Science does not ig-
Il fx-f. do
nounce them; spares in them all that
comedies with Truth; but without
apology 1t lifts the whole field of re-
ligious thought from the material to
the spiritual, from unsatisfying specu-
lation to the perception of revealed and
demonstrable truth.
Whenever it is supposed that the |
teaching of scholasticism and the |
teaching of Christian Science fail to
harmonic upon any given subject, a |
study of the dictionaries will as rule |
get at the root of the matter, and es- |
tablish the interesting fact that any |
theologian who Is willing to grasp the
entire meaning and usage of the terms
which traditional theology has en-
ployed, must necessarily sanction the |
interpretations of Christian Science.
Mrs. Eddy insists upon penetrating |
beneath superficial reasonings and |
interpretations; and scholasticism, |
wherein it has been honest. can have |
had only the same motive and en- |
deavor. Therefore every sincere
Christian may be comforted in know
ing that Christian Science claims no
more than the full and whole and right |
meaning of whatever may be under |
consideration, and that the creedist, &c
he be frank and fair in suppol ting |
every effort to attain a right under
standing of all that pertains to saliva
ton, will find in Christian Science an |
fnnYa1 sing rndarqfa ndincr ne oil ri
good he has hitherto cherished
The widely scattered adaptations of |
ancient and modern scholasticism are |
yielding to the analysis which stands |
upon the basic meaning of the subjects
so vital to religionists, and under this |
analysis the hampering personal con-
cepts of generations are disappearing, |
that all religious thought may unite in
knowing what is true about God man
and the universe.
1t Unfolds the Truth
From this standpoint a careful study
OF the question of the atonement COM
pels the thinker to admit that in its
complete analysis theology is really in
concord with the conclusions of Chris
tan Science concerning this all-im
portant subject. The dictionaries set
forth the doctrinal interpretations as
being a specific use of the word atone
ment and the root meaning is given
distinctly apart from the theological
usage. Theology must however,
reckon with the fundamental defiini-
ton and the whole meaning of the
word, If it would build fairly. Webster
says:
"Atone. From at one, i. e., to be, or
cause to be, at one; to agree; to be in
accordance; to set at one; to reduce to
concord. Atonement (n) literally, a
setting at one. Reconciliation. Res
toration of friendly relations. Agree
ment. Concord.
90. To make satisfaction for. To
expiate Satisfaction or reparation
made by giving an equivalent for an
injury, or by doing or suffering that
which will be received in satisfaction
for an offense or injury; expiation;
amends. Specifically in theology, the
expiation of sin made by the obedience,
personal suffering, and death of
Christ"
The creed has based It's teaching up-
on the meaning defined in Websters
second section. Christian Science I'M
folds the truth indicated in Websters
first and fundamental statement. Yet
the creedal theology admits the ulti-
mate result of the process of atone
ment to be an at-one-ment with God
and heaven and everlasting happiness,
and so 1t appears that Christian Sci
ence is supported from every stand
point of former belief in its teaching
that oneness of thought with all that
is of God, is the real atonement The
difference between creedal belief and
Christian Science concerning the ques-