The Delta independent., 1915-03-26

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when the knowledge of the truth shall
have displaced and destroyed (out OF
human consciousness), the belief OF
that which is not true. There is no
escape from this conclusion.
Christian Science shows that it is
the effect produced by Truth operat-
ing in the human mentality, destroy
ing superstition. false and vicious be-
liefs that must and will some day
emancipate mankind from bondage to
sin, disease and death.
Ultimate Truth
There must be ultimate truth some
where. and when it is apprehended by
the human mind it will emancipate
those who apprehend it from bondage
to evil Christian Science asserts
that ultimate truth concerning God
and man and their relationship is re-
vealed by the Scriptures, and may be
gained by every person when the
Scriptures are rightly interpreted
Difference Between Belief and Under
8tdnOin9
1t is sometimes difficult for people
to understand how religion can heal
sickness and destroy sin. but the
words of Jesus make it plain. Since
it is through knowledge of the truth
that these results are accomplished
the important thing for each one is
to gain an understanding of truth in
stead of being satisfied with mere be-
lief about it. In other words. in order
to find out how religion can destroy
sin, sickness and all sorts of evil
condition, it is first necessary to gain
an understanding as to what is re-
ligion. To gain the benefits promised
in the Bible to true believers it is
necessary to get rid of tina; lich is
erroneous in religious belief and prac-
tice, and to ascertain what constitutes
true religion.
There are many who honestly think
that it makes no difference what re-
ligious beliefs they entertain, so long
as they are sincere in them. A mo-
ment's reflection, however. will show
that such a theory is pernicious and
destructive, for it is perfectly plain
that if thing is not, in fact, true. no
amount of sincerity on the part of the
believer can ever make it true. No
engineer ever arrived at a correct re-
suit, no matter how sincerely he may
have believed that his processes were
correct, If they were not so in fact.
With respect to many things it may
be unimportant whether the thing be-
lieved is true or not, but with respect
to the things that people believe about
God, and about themselves, and about
their relationship to God, theyf are
vital. because it will be shown that
the things believed with respect to
these matters. become laws that are
binding upon the believer.
God
In trying to ascertain what consti-
tutes religion the very first subject
to be considered is that which relates
to God. Every one must agree that
a correct understanding of God is es-
sential as the foundation of religion.
ANY system of religious teaching that
is founded upon an imperfect or er-
roneous conception of God must neces-
sarily fail to bring its adherents the
help and comfort for which they seek.
When we look about us and see
the splendid fidelity of men and
women to their religious beliefs and
then see how much suffering and
failure they experience, and how far
short they come of attaining the good
which they so honestly seek, it is
fair deduction that there is something
wrong about their understanding of
God.
No offense will be given therefore.
by the statement that the average
person has a very indefinite and neb-
ulous conception of God. II you were
to ask a dozen people to tell you who
and what God is. you would get
dozen different answers. There are
some who think God is person.
How many people there are who,
when they kneel down and close their
eyes, and reverently pray to God.
have in mind a person, or form. or
an image to which they pray. And
how many others there are who think
of God as being of anger and re-
sentiment, who sends failure and suf-
fering to those who displease him?
And are there not great many others
who think of God as being who lives
in a far-off country called Heaven,