The Irish standard., 1917-01-27

| OF Christian Science?" God never
created matter" says Mrs. Eddy. The
world we think We see around us has
no real existence. We have just got
the idea in our minds that there are
such things. Then we think there are
Our senses deceive us. 1t is only
spiritual things that have any real ex-
lstence. There is no such thing as
solid matter, e. g., this hall has no
real existence outside your minds We
think that it does exist and we act as
If it did. Those walls are not there
In reality. There is nothing there.
Why then does not the roof fall in.
Because there is no roof to fall in.
The street cars do not exist. If you
ride on them you only think you are
doing so.
What is the meaning of all this
pagan philosophy? Not merely is it
anti-Christian and grossly pagan, it is
downright foolishness. How can any
man or women, with an ounce of COM
mon sense, attach themselves to such
a sect? Some people are foolish
enough to do anything. Others always
laundering after some new fad, and
this seems to please them. They are
like babies; they must have toys.
When they are tired of one they throw
it aside and take to another Others
again don't take trouble to examine
the tenets of Christian Science"
Many join because they have no mind
of their own and allow themselves to
be led blindly by others.
But now allowing large margin for
all this, is there not some practical
end in view? Yes. There is an end
: in vieW-a very definite end. And this
is the reason it is called science.
Mrs. Eddy and her followers claim to
be able to effect cures. 1t advertses
itself as being able to destroy all
bodily disease, and to make men per-
fectly happy. 1t is this advertisement
that makes SO many people, who are
miserable in mind and body, turn to
Mrs Eddy for comfort And how does
christian Science" propose to carry
out this program? 1t undertakes to
cure man of his disease by convinc-
ing him that he has no disease. 1t will
try to show him that he has no pain,
l q he Go H..
viction is brought home to him, Mrs.
Eddy says all pain will disappear, and
he will be quite well again. If you
have got a bad headache. or broken
limb convince yourself that it is all
imagination. Then you are cured.
This is very simple is it not? Now
that is the practical side of christian
Science You see how it follows
from their teaching about God and the
world which have already explained.
Namely, there was no creation, there.
fore there are no material things
From this it follows that material
things cannot hurt us, consequently
there is no such thing as pain, no suf.
fering. no evil of any kind, not even
sin and therefore it was not necessary
for Christ to die for us. There is no
sin or suffering" says Mrs. Eddy. Get
rid of the idea that there is, then you
will be quite WE'LL This is the medi-
cal side of christian Science" as first
advocated by Mrs. Eddy and still
taught by her disciples. No more doc
tors, no more medicine, no more pain,
no more sin. We will have a little
paradise. This is the promise held out
to all who accept this teaching. Sure
ly one might say at first sight that
religion which is so rich in promises,
which claims to work such wonders
is worth following ii only it can &C.
complish its program But that is just
the point 1t is too good to be true
Neglecting for a moment the folly of
the whole thing, let us examine this
peculiar medical treatment. AS you
probably have observed for yourselves
the whole thing is mess of contradic-
tions. 1t begins with the idea that
God never created the world. There
fore Pagan Science" and not Chris.
tian Science is its proper name. But
can it be called Science" in any sense.
l am walking down the street on
winters day, slip and sprain my foot.
According to the Christian Scientist
there is no real injury, no real pain.
Why? Because there is no ice there.
only thought there was. But l saw
it. felt It, I feel the pain now. That
is all imagination. Your eyes deceived
you, all your senses deceive you. 1t
is the same with all other forms of
sickness. Don't mind the doctors.
Is there then any glimmering of
truth to be found in the utterances of
this prophecies of the 10th century?
Is it all false? Has she, by any
chance. given utterance tn even ono