The Denver Jewish news., 1922-01-11
''Why JewsTurn to Chri-
stian Science"
by RABBI STEPHEN $. WISE


CT deal with it earnestly and as rcver-
emily as | can. To say~ n do some
ot my fellow Jewish teachers. that
Christian Science is passing fad and
nothing more than the fashion of IL
day does not really explain its domi
nance over the life of great numbers
Of people in this and other lands.
Moreover. it is for us TO he just as
fair as we can to those with whom
we find ourselves under the necessity
| of disagreement
Though, i seem to speak of Chris
tian Science, deal with ii largely as
representative. though its followers
would eagerly deny the imputation. of
Il whole series of cults. OF the whole
present-slay Iuasi-religious movement.
| Christian Science is one of n dozen
and more loosely or closely related
movements in the religious life of our
time, differing perhaps from one an
other but alike in their point of ap-
proach TO the problem of religion and
certainly mt one insofar as Jews are
related or unrelated to them.
Instead of asking why Jews turn
to Christian Science. the prior question
ought to be put-do they turn to
Christian Science? And the answer
is, they do-not in as large numbers
ms is commonly believed. hut in num-
hers considerable enough to be disturb
ing and arrestive. Twenty years ago,
il was believed that the death of the
founder of Christian Science would
somehow marx detection thercfrom
Of its Jewish adherents. but the cx.
pcctcd has failed to come to pass. and
there nrc probably few Christian
Science churches in America in which
Jews in numbers large or small are
not members.
Strange as 1t may sound to those
unacQuaintcd with the fact. the con-
version of Jews to Christian Science
is perhaps more serious than any de-
fcctiOn of centuries. Jews have turned
TO the Roman Catholic Church ns n
lands OF Europe. not to bc saved by
Christianity hut to he saved from
Christians Some Jews in America he
come members of the Anglican or
Episcopal Church but such member
ship is n social luxury and indulged
in altogether in the hope of social
rather than spiritual grace. But Jews
are turning to Christian Science and
they are in earnest and they are fair
ly numerous and 1t is for us To asccr-
tain why this is true-why Christian
|. Science seems to make such cOnsid
crable inroadi upon the household of
Jewish faith and life.
So considerable are the numbers of
Jews who count themselves Christian
Scientists that il is semi seriously he
licvcd that before many years have
rassed Chri titan Scientists. in the view
of the number of Jewish converts.
will cede the field to these and what
are now. known as Christian Science
churches will he fedcsignated under
the title of Christian Science synn-
gogs.
And yet to he fair 10 Christian
Science, it must be said that while
| an astonishing number of Christian
Science adherents are or have been
Jews, an adherence destined. be-
licvc. to prove Il temporary attach
ment rather than II permanent dis
cipleship. Christian Science has not
set ont to convert Jews. but Jews have
been quite extraordinarily susceptible
to its influence. to the attraction
which it has seemed to exercise.
What are the causes that have
moved Jews in great and unwonted
numbers to embrace this new cult!
For it must be admitted that, FOR the
first time in many centuries, an alien
cult has made an impression upon the
Jewish people This impression may
bo due largely to the circumstance
| that many Jews, who have succumbed
| to its lure, imagine thar Christian
| Science, while bcaring the name Chris
| tian. is not Christian movement AT
all. and that il neither takes them out
of Jewish life and thought nor puts
them into Christian life aud thought
that if anything it is more nearly
| Jewish than Christian and that nd-
hercnce to Christian Science involves
I no severing of the ties that bind jew
ish men and women to Judaism.
Again nnd again, it has been most
shrcwtlly alleged that Christian
Science does not require severance OF
lCnntInled on pnge Il