p. 4 | Christian Science by Walter Clair Thompson

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Dec 12, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 49.

Christian Science

By Walter Clair Thompson

V—As a Therapeutic Agency

CONSISTENT with the theory that matter does not exist, that bone, tissue, and blood are only aberration of mortal mind, Christian Science teaches that disease is only an illusion. Assuming that "nothing is matter," this theory of no disease is a logical conclusion. Deny the reality of matter, and you must deny the existence of disease, which is manifest only in matter.

The following quotations from "Science and Health" set forth its teachings with regard to disease:

Man is never sick.—Page 322. All disease is the result of education.—Page 69. The evidences of the senses are not to be accepted in the cure of disease.—Page 334. Sometime it will be learned that mind constructs the body, and with its own materials. Hence no breakage or dislocation can occur.—Page 400.

This is to say that there are no such things as colds, aches, or pains. Cancer preying upon the vitals exists only in the imagination; consumption, manifested in the hectic glow of the sunken cheek, and emaciated body, is only a delusion. A train, freighted with humanity, is wrecked, mangling some of its victims into unrecognizable fragments, dissevering the limbs of some, and bruising the bodies of others; but it is all only an illusion—no accident has occurred!

If you have friends among these victims, stop your ears to their dying groans, lave not their fevered brows, and shed no tears of sympathy, but pity them only as victims of "mortal mind." Tho some of their limbs may be picked up in baskets, assure them that it is all an illusion; and to every appeal for aid, answer by quoting to the imaginary (!) sufferer the energizing text which teaches: "The mind constructs the body. . . . Hence no breakage or dislocation can occur."

This picture has not been drawn for the purpose of ridicule, but simply to show what such a doctrine demands of its votaries when carried out to its logical conclusion. The picture is consistent with its teachings. How many of our Scientist friends are willing to accept the issue under such circumstances? If unwilling, their first steps to such conclusions should be repudiated as unsafe and inconsistent.

Christian Science Practitioners

Notwithstanding this doctrine of no disease, Christian Science practitioners number into the thousands, and find the treatment of disease a very lucrative profession. The wealth acquired from this source, and from instructing those who covet the "gift" of healing to the extent of paying a large tuition for such knowledge, is such as would excite the predatory lusts of human nature. This commercial advantage of the profession furnishes a potent factor as an attraction, and students are encouraged to purchase at a stipulated price.

If this healing were not done in the name of religion, Christians would make no protest; but when done in the name of Christianity—the religion of inherent aversion to predatory exploits, and a most beautiful record of altruism—it gives rise to a feeling of indignation in the breasts of those who jealously guard the holy virtue of the Christ religion.

Why These Physicians?

But why physicians when disease does not exist? Ah, it is the physician's mission to disabuse the patient's mind of the illusion of disease. They are educators commissioned to disillusion humanity. Yes, and the lower animals also; for they, too, are victims of "mortal mind," and imagine they have ills. However, man, with his "false education," is perhaps responsible for the error that a dog has mange; but step on his

tail, and he howls, proving this illusion to be purely his own. But if a man's opinion concerning his physical condition is to be discounted one hundred per cent, I suppose we must ignore the dog's convictions altogether. But in "Science and Health" we learn that there is help even for the dog. It is possible for him to attain to a higher plane of mentality, beyond the ken of ills.

In view of the following, however, is not the genus homo a little previous in boasting of his superiority over the lower strata of animal life? We quote from "Science and Health," page 489:

The less mind there is manifested in matter the better. When the unthinking lobster loses a claw, the claw grows again. If the science of life were understood . . . it would be found that the senses of mind are never lost, and that matter has no sensation. Then the human limb would be replaced as readily as the lobster claw.

We take it from this that the lobster, innocent of the "crime of thinking," is a fitter subject for the reception of this science than is the ordinary human being.

But let us quote further from "Science and Health":

Physiology is one of the apples from the "tree of knowledge."—Page 165. Where ignorance is bliss, it is folly to be wise.—Page 176. Heredity is not a law.—Page 178. The so-called laws of health are simply laws of mental belief.—Page 184. We say man suffers from the effect of cold, heat, fatigue. This is human belief, but not the truth of being, for matter can not suffer.—Page 184.

Many would denounce such teachings as the product of the madhouse, undeserving of anything but contempt; but as thousands of men and women of ordinary intelligence are so seriously affected thereby, we are disposed to be more charitable, and find an explanation in the fact that suffering humanity, ever looking for a remedy for earth's ills, is blinded to the observation of causes while under the stimulus of apparently good effects.

The Secret of Its Hold on Humanity

It is to its work as a physician, and not as a religion, that Christian Science owes its hold upon humanity. Take from it its great claims as a healing agency, and as a religion it would not survive a day. It is because the world is groaning under a burden of disease, brought on by its own sins, that this so-called physician is admitted to intelligent society.

To such as are suffering, it seems to hold out a new hope. Teaching the same old falsehood that seduced our first parents—"Ye shall not surely die; . . . ye shall be as God"—it deceives them into believing that in it they will find the elixir of life and the fountain of youth; while at the very moment, the inexorable laws of sin and death are wasting their bodies and leading their reluctant feet to the inevitable pit where dust returns to dust.

In our experience we have met scores of the adherents of this belief who, even while incurable disease was preying upon their vitals, and slowly penciling the picture of death on their features, at the same time, while under the spell of this subtle power, still protested that they were enjoying the blessings and comforts of health. Such scenes certainly furnish a sad picture of the power of deception.

Ignorance always furnishes a most congenial soil for the growth and cultivation of the weeds of false religion and philosophy.

And like weeds, rank and luxuriant in promise, but in harvest yielding no golden grain, false religion gives promise of reward in its season of springtime; but when the summer is past and the harvest ended, there is nothing that can be garnered from it that will feed the soul and sustain the spiritual life.

A Unique Position

With regard to learning, the Christian Scientist's position is unique. In this it stands against the verdict of all the most eminent scholars. Copernicus, Newton, and Pasteur, instead of giving to the world, through scholarly research, a fund of knowledge of inestimable value, are by this philosophy set aside, not only as being in error, but also as guilty of wandering farther into darkness than the most stolid menial, whose intellectual apathy and lack of ambition have wedded him to the position that makes him a brother to the ox and the ass. Accepting Christian Science, there is no escaping this conclusion. If we are willing to repudiate all history, stamp as false all past experience, ignore all environment, and the verdict of the senses, then and only then can we consistently accept such a doctrine.

Some Scriptural Reasons

To the Christian there are even stronger reasons against this so-called science. These are Scriptural reasons. As has been shown in the previous article, it is in constant conflict, not only with science, but with Bible truth. Here are a few additional proofs:

To the statements that "man is never sick," and "all disease and death are only illusions," the Bible answers, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." Eze. 18:4, 20.

That the Bible recognizes sickness and death, not as false belief and illusions, but as actual experiences, will be seen by the following texts:

And He healed many that were sick with divers diseases. Mark 1:34. But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever. Mark 1:30.

In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. . . . And Hezekiah wept sore. . . . And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered. 2 Kings 20:1-7.

In the last text cited, there are three points to be especially noted: first, Hezekiah was sick unto death; second, the disease is named—a boil; third, medicine was applied and the patient recovered. Isaiah did not tell Hezekiah that he was suffering under an illusion; but he recognized his sickness as a real experience, gave him medicine as a remedy, and it healed him. Certainly Bible history does not sound much like Christian Science theory.

The Evidence of Healing

Having shown this philosophy to rest upon a false hypothesis, and to be diametrically opposed to Bible truth, we could rest our case, feeling confident that we have clearly proved to the satisfaction of any candid mind that Christian Science is one of the grossest errors ever foisted upon humanity by the adversary of souls. However, we wish to notice one more question which is always resorted to as a final plea for justification. It is frequently asked in all sincerity, even in the face of overwhelming evidence against its philosophy, Do not Christian Scientists heal the sick? and is not this a great and good work?

It is true that they seem to have about as good success at healing the sick as a dozen other so-called healers, among which we might name mesmerists, magnetic healers, and heathen enchanters whose names are legion. These all profess to heal the sick, all get results, and each one seems to enjoy about as much success as its rivals. None of them, however, seem to enjoy greater success than did Simon the sorcerer, of whom it is written:

But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. Acts 8:9, 10.

To this great (?) man the apostle Peter said, "Thy heart is not right in the sight of God. . . . For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity."

Let us also notice the testimony of Christ upon this point:

Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity. Matt. 7:21-23.

If, then, the performing of apparent good works furnishes no positive proof of divine sanction, what is to be the test? The answer is:

To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Isa. 8:20.

This standard, dear reader, is to be our test for truth. In this day of great darkness, the Word of God should furnish a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.