BOOK NOTICES

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Sep 22, 1914

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 37.

"THE ORIGIN OF CHRISTIAN SCIENCE," by T. P. Stafford, A. M., Th. D., Kansas City, Missouri, the Western Baptist Publishing Company, 1912. 240 pages, demy octavo.

One of the most valuable contributions to the exposition of the character of Christian Science, is this volume by Professor Stafford. The book shows that he has made extensive research on this subject, and he writes with the assurance of one who knows what he is talking about.

He makes it conclusively clear that Christian Science is merely a working over of the utterances of the heathen philosopher Plato, as revamped and presented by Plotinus and others in the first centuries of the Christian era, in what is known as Neoplatonism. Every individual who cares to know the truth concerning Christian Science, and the fact of its relation to paganism rather than to the Bible, will feel, after reading this volume, like thanking Professor Stafford for the splendid work he has done.

Mrs. Eddy presents her work as a great revelation, as a completely new thing; but when it is shown that Plato before her had very similar notions and gave out a very similar teaching, and further, that the Neoplatonists on down to the times of Spinoza were continually working over his philosophy into forms of thought identical with those of Christian Science, it takes away the fascination that comes from any idea of inspiration and special illumination in connection with Mrs. Eddy's work.

Professor Stafford thinks that Christian Science has points of general similarity to Indian philosophy,—Brahmanism and Buddhism,—yet that in reality it is an "offshoot, that is, a sucker, of Platonism."

The evidences for the conclusions he reaches in his volume are well authenticated by numerous references to recognized authorities.