Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-09
Mz!6ee5sn
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About Christian Science.

ltor of the Bee: May l offer amend.
ments to some statements concern.
ing Christian Science in the article
on "Spiritualism" from the Balti.
more American, reprinted in The
Bee OF January 20. OF course. The
Bee is responsible only for the fur
ther circulation of the article. but
II reaches so many people that the
| other side Of the question should be
stated.
Christian Science is virtually in
terwoven with spiritism by the ma
ture Of its teaching" is a statement
In the article that Is simply pre-
posterous. The two systems are en-
tirely antagonistic, as Mary Baker
Eddy maintains throughout her
| writings. and no one is better uuali-
! ned than she to pass on this cues
ton. She carefully investigated
| spiritism before her discovery of
Christian Science, at a time when
splritualism was more prevalent
| probably than it is today. One chap
ter of her textbook, Science and
Health With Key to the Scriptures,
is devoted to this topic. It is en-
titled. Christian Science Versus
Spiritualism," and it logically proves
that the further one goes in the
study and practice of either of these
| subjects the farther he is from the
other.
The nature of any teaching is con-
clusively shown by it's practices and
results, and in all these Christian
Science and spiritualism are as far
apart as the poles. The article pro-
vides an apt illustration. 1t refers
TO Well-known spiritualists as those
who have become exponents of the
truth Of Immortality as derived from
table tipping and like exercises,
along with levitation, direct voice
and varied forms of alleged com
munication with the other world"
Christian Science emphatically re-
pudiates table tipping, levitation.
communication, and all such avowed
activities Of alleged spirits, and
questions their asserted proof of i'm
mortality. This science maintains
that the teachings and works of
Christ Jesus fully prove Immortality.
and that they are logical and dem
onstrable. The destruction of sin
and the healing of disease through
the power of God, spirit, as Jesus
did, leads ultimately to the conquest
OF death as taught by the Master
and shown In his resurrection and
ascension. Thus he fully and unmis-
takably demonstrated immortality.
Christian Scientists do not claim to
have reached that point, but they are
o'bediently taking the steps of heal
ing the sick and reforming sinners
through spiritual power alone. This
practice and its remarkable results
stand out in clear contrast with the
rappings. voices and other manifest
ations Of seances and mediums.
A group Of mistaken statements
in the article, is the following:
"They (Christian Scientists) hold
that one can open his consciousness
to the entrance of the discarnate
spirit of a murderer, drunkard, or
some other evil eype. So, evil po-
session results and the appropriate
acts are induced. On the other
hand, one can open up his con-
sciousness to the divine mind that
will preclude the entrance of the
evil spirit or mind and bring the
individual into conformity with the
mind Of Cod" These assertions are
at variance with Christian Science
in several vital particulars, but con-
sideration of the two phrases, dis
carnate spirit" and "evil spirit"
will show the opposite character Of
the two subjects. A fundamental of
spiritualism is belief in many and
various spirits. so the above state
ments probably are in harmony with
it. The basis of Christian Science Is
the Bible doctrine of one. infinite
God, who also is spirit; therefore
science deduces logically that spirit
is enc and infinite. In this science.
then, the term spirits is as improper
as the term gods. also the use oc
such adjectives as discarnate and
evil to describe spirit is inadmissible.
Most English translators of the
Bible have used the term spirit
loosely and thus lend slight color
of verify to spiritistic theorizing
about spirit in a finite and good
sense are applied in Christian
Science to mean right ideas or
thoughts, while evil spirits, devils,
and so forth are considered evil
beliefs or false convictions. Thus
Christian Science rejects any sup
posed mysticism about spirituality
and reveals it as practical,t in
telligible, and provable fact Of daily
experience, and always as a power
for good.
LOUIS A. GREGORY.
Christian Science Committee on
Publication for Nebraska.