The Bozeman courier., 1927-07-08
SCIENCE IS .
MUCH RIlSSlUAIIBRSIOOB MS
Discussion bg Richard Fl. Smith,
Christian Science Committee
on Publication for Montana

There is probably no subject about
which accurate information is more
lacking, among those who are not its
adherents, than Christian Science.
Consequently, there is an occasional
adverse criticism. Referring to these,
friendly preacher, when introduc-
ing a Christian Science lecturer, once
remarked that it was his observation
that ordinarily the thing criticised
was not Christian Science. 1t is with
the hope that may make clear few
subjects which are sometimes the OBJ
ject of attack that this article is
written.
Christian Science is not a faith
cure, as that term is commonly under
stood. It is that spiritual healing
for which there is such abundant
Scriptural warrant. 1t is not hyp-
notism, but the present-day practice
and application of the spiritual laws
by which Jesus healed. Faith heal
ing, as commonly understood, is a
more or less blind trustfulness that
God will heal. In Christian Science
we take the step from trustfulness to
trustworthiness. Not only do we
trust, but, by a right application of
Gods laws, we prove that He heals.
Thus, healing in Christian Science is
not by faith born alone of belief, but
of knowledge. The Scriptures abound
with promises of spiritual healing
J James tells us that "the prayer OF
| eo:1I. -Lo1I ~oxvo 4Io e1oIy1 II ic Soma.
3 times claimed that there is no Scrip
3 tural authority for spiritual healing
! in this age. We need look for sucl
authority no further than the verse
just quoted. To interpret it other
! wise would be to ignore unambiguou'
language. The fact that Christian
Science heals is so well established
that it is scarcely ever questioned. /
t is sometimes stated, however, that 1T
: practice is suggestion or hypnOtism
The exact opposite is the fact. Hyp
e notism ascribes power to suggestion
q Christian Science applies literally tn
u Scriptures that "there is no powe
but of God" Christian Science heal
. ings result from the practice an
application of that fact. We in
/ sist that God, divine Mind is tn
only cause. Mary Baker Edd!
the Discoverer and Founder {
Christian Science, says in "ScienC
y and Health with Key to the ScriI
lures" (page 415), Immortal Mind
the only cause" It is from this pr
mise that all Christian Science trea
y ments proceed. In common parlanc
l0 thoughts are the seeming product
the so-called mortal, human, or earn
Is mind. Paul makes clear that the
can be no part of a system of ther
peutics dependent upon God, the on
cause. He says in Romans that Il
carnal mind is "enmity against God
6O In terms equally positive Mrs. Edt
" rejects them: Material and temper
20 thoughts are human, involving errC
90 and since God, Spirit, is the on
40 cause, they lack a divine cause" (Sl
- ence and Health, p. 1851. Hypnotisl
which is but material or tempO1
thought or suggestion, it will be SEE
is expressly rejected by the Discove
10 er and Founder of Christian Scienl
1t is. sometimes said that spiritu
healings were Iinited to Jesus a
- his apostles. His own words repr
w late that contention. He said, =
that believeth on me, the works tx
70 | do shall he do also" The wo1
- that Jesus did were healing.
81 / makes plain that those who belle
shall also heal. The fact that Chri
ian Scientists do heal indicates Il
nsae their ronceptzon and application
belief is Scriptnral.
White SULPHUR Springs~-C Castle d