Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-25
SAYS SCIENCE Is
NOT PSYCHOLOGY
WRITER POINTS OUT THE
DIFFERENCE
One Who Has Made Deep Study of
Christian Science Shows Fall
lacy of Suggestions or
Mesmerism
ny GEORGE SHAW COOK

ference between Christian Science and
ehology. 1t would not be possible within
eology. 1t would not be possible within
the limits of short article to discuss
all the points of divergence, but Will
refer briefly to some of the differences
between the Christ healing as applied
In Christian Science and the various
phases of mental therapeutics based
upon the supposed power of the human
mind.
Christian Scientists have long been
subjected to the sometimes unkindly
criticism of those who do not agree
with them to be intolerant of the
views of others. They respect the mo-
tives of all who are earnestly engaged
In the endeavor to alleviate human
suffering, even though they may not
be able to indorse their methods.
Christian psychology is interesting to-
Christian Scientists chiefly for the rea-
son that it's advocacy by cregymen
seems to indicate that the older
churches are awakening to the neces-
sity of ministering to the bodily as
well as the spiritual needs of mankind.
For many years since Mrs. Eddy de-
clared the healing of sickness by spir-
itual means to be an indispensable
feature of true Christianity, the con-
tention of some clergymen has been
that the time for such healing had
passed. They have said that it was
right for Jesus and the early Christians
to have healed by the power of Spirit,
but that it would not be right for any
one in this age except doctors of medi-
cine to attempt the cure of disease.
Apparently there has recently been an
awakening to the fact that ministers of
the gospel of Christ have either been
neglecting a duty or overlooking an OPP
portunity. The only cause for regret
tn this connection seems to be that the
clergymen who advocate Christian psy-
chology have not adopted the pure spir-
itual methods of Christ Jesus, but have
been willing to accept as satisfactory
substitute therefor mode of mental
suggestion of mesmerism.
Not Mesmerism
To link the name psychology which
at once suggests the thought of mes
merism with the name Christian is to
imply if not declare that Christ Jesus
was q mesmerist. Indeed, the attempt
to combine the radically opposed
thoughts suggested by the term Chris
tian psychology would seem to present
great moral as well as intellectual diff
ficulty. The word Christian is natur-
ally and properly associated with that
which pertains to God, Spirit, Divine
Mind, as revealed and eXemplified in
the words and works of Christ Jesus.
The word psychology is quite as ma
turally associated with the phenomena
of the human, material mind. The
combination therefore would appear
to be logically impossible.
A primary definition of science is:
knowledge; comprehension or under
standing of facts or principles" Moth
ing more is claimed for Christian Sci
ence than that it is the knowledge,
understanding, or comprehension of
facts concerning the principle of Be
ing, God, and the application of His
law to the destruction of evil in the
manner employed by Jesus the Christ.
To be a Christian one must not only
"beleve on the Lord Jesus Christ" but
must follow the Christ way of saliva
ton from the ills to which humanity
is heir. The question then arises, what
is the Christ way? What method did |
Jesus employ in healing sickness and |
destroying sin?
Did Not Use Drugs
1t will not be seriously contended, 1 |
think, that Jesus used drugs in heal
ing or that he depended in any way
upon matter to facilitate his cures |
There would be few who would claim |
that Jesus co-operated with doctors Of |
medicine or that he required medical |
diagnoses of the diseases ne cured. |
The gospel record which Christians !
GSSCPl as duLIlOIlly SLOWS lIldI Jesus
healed AL manner of disease" re- |
formed the sinner and raised the dead |
by the power of God, divine Spirit |
alone. If this spiritual method was |
Gods way of healing in the time of |
Jesus it must be His way now, for I'D |
is unchanging. If, on the other hand |
the use of drugs is Gods way of heal |
ing, why did not Christ Jesus use
them? If the combined use of prayer |
and medicine is Gods way, why did |
not Jesus combine them in his prac-
fice! 1t should be obvious that if med |
icine of itself is aole to heal prayer |
is not necessary adjunct of the heal |
ing art and if prayer is efficacious, |
medicine is not needed. James said |
the prayer of faith shall save the |
eick," not the prayer of faith supple |
1nented by drugging.
Christian Science shows that one |
phase of error will not destroy another |
phase of error. 1t shows that the hui |
man mind cannot destroy the evil con-
ditions which it creates. Nothing but |
Truth can destroy error, for the same |
reason that nothing but light can de- |
stroy darkness. One form of mortal
belief may take the place of another |
form, and temporary benefit may seem |
10 result from this change but nothing |
can completely eradicate human error |
and the effect thereof except absolute |
understanding of divine Truth. Chris |
tian Science teaches that all disease is |
due to some phase of mortal belief
Cures from Divine Mind
1t shows that not only mental but |
bodily sickness is directly or indirectly |
caused by some erroneous condition of |
thought. such as fear, sin, worry, hat |
red envy, lust or by some generally |
accepted belief of the human mind |
claiming 10 operate as law. 1t shows
that the scientific and permanent cure
of disease must therefore come from |
an opposite source, from the Mind |
which is divine, the eternal, universal |
omnipotent Mind to which Paul re-
telred when he said, Let that mind
be in you which was also in Christ
Jesus"
Jesus said Of his works. ''I can of
mine own self do nothing.
The Father that dWelleth in me. He
doeth the works" To his followers he
said, The works hat ] do .hall We do
also and greater works" Christian
Scientists believe that as followers of
Christ Jesus they have right to take
him at his word. They believe that
the healing which il did was lawful
and was done according to an under
stood principle. They believe that this
principle is God, divine Mind. They be-
lieve that divine Mind is available to
man now just as it was i'm the time
of Jesus. They believe that God and his
eternal Christ should be entirely ade-
quate to save under all circumstances
and conditions.
Christian Scientists are, however
sqpSfhle of the fact fhat fbav bo,yo