Christian Science by Walter Clair Thompson

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Nov 21, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 46.

Christian Science

By Walter Clair Thompson

II—The Source of Its Philosophy

Man lives plunged in a world of illusion, and of deceptive forms which the vulgar take for reality. —Democritus, B.C. 430.

Matter and mortal body are illusions of human belief which seem to appear and disappear to mortal sense alone.—Mrs. Eddy, 1898.

To a people cultured and refined by centuries of Christian education, any innovation in the way of cult or science must come clothed in garments that will not repulse their sensitive natures. Modern civilization instinctively recoils from anything that is coarse or hideous. This the great adversary of souls has not been slow to recognize, and it has occasioned a revolution in his methods. He can no longer parade in our midst with "cloven hoofs," but appears instead as an angel of light.

In this twentieth century, surrounded by so many evidences of advancement, we flatter ourselves that the baser passions of mankind have been subdued, and that we have lost our taste for such hideous scenes as were witnessed by the Romans in the Pantheon, and for the orgies of the vale of the son of Hinnom; and now that we are enjoying the full rays of the Gospel age, we are immune to such temptations as degraded the early Syrians to bowing at the shrine of Baal-peor, and to offering sacrifices to the dead.

While this is true to a great extent, still the satanic agency that presided at the revolting ceremonies of the ancient sorcerers has not ceased his activities; but instead of his devotees' bowing down to Moloch, they assemble in magnificent temples, conducting the same spirit worship, but with ceremonies less offensive to the ethics of the present age; and while pantheism is relegated to darkened heathenism, it lurks in our midst in the more elusive doctrines of the Christian Scientists.

Christian Science and Ancient Cults

That Christian Science is only a modern revival of ancient heathenism, instead of, as taught and believed by that sect, a recent revelation from heaven, can be proved by such an array of evidence as to be irrefutable. This evidence will show that while this erratic philosophy comes to us labeled as Christian, and has gathered about its form the sacramental garments of the church of Christ, it is traceable to the diabolical worship of the Hindus, its modern dress serving only as a cloak to conceal its hideous identity.

Christian Science might have gone serenely on, and its integrity been unquestioned, its "good clothes" admitting it to Christian society, were it not that its ill manners, so to speak, too often betrayed its ill breeding. Its true family relation is exposed by certain principles so palpably contrary to clearly defined Christian ethics as to arouse suspicion. This suspicion has led to investigation, and investigation to startling discoveries.

A very serious accusation growing out of this investigation is that, instead of being of Christian origin, it is of heathen parentage; born not from above, but is of the earth, its Christian baptism standing not for regeneration, but serving instead a purpose to unholy ambition. This is a serious charge; can it be sustained by facts? As proof that this accusation is well founded, the following evidence is submitted:

The fundamentals of Christian Science and the Hindu Vedanta are essentially the same. This is strikingly shown by the following parallels:

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE	VEDANTA PHILOSOPHY
Denies the personality of God: "God, principle, life, mind."—"Science and Health," page 115.	Denies the personality of God: "God is essence, impersonal and formless."
Teaches self-immolation as a means of salvation: "The atonement requires constant self-immolation."—Id., pages 23, 25.	Teaches self-discipline as a means of salvation: "It is through protracted self-discipline we are absorbed into the one God."
Denies the reality of matter: "Matter is an error of statement." "The conventional firm called matter and mind, God never formed."—Id., pages 274, 277.	Denies the reality of matter: "The whole external world is an illusion. Actions and feelings are a mistake."—Williams, "Hinduism."

The following declaration of the religious belief of an educated Hindu is certainly very interesting when compared with the teachings of Christian Science:

There is but one god, by whatsoever form he is worshiped in Asia or Europe. He is in his essence impersonal and formless, tho he delights in manifesting himself in infinite developments and personalities, and tho he chooses to ignore himself in the distinct individualities created by himself. Hence the separate existence of you and me and the world around us, is a mere illusion. When through protracted self-discipline the illusion is made to vanish we are absorbed into the one God.—Williams.

If a page containing this quotation should be picked up from the streets of some American city, the finder no doubt would think that some disciple of Mrs. Eddy's had lost a page from his text-book. While the language is not exactly the same as found in "Science and Health," the philosophy is identical. In fact much of the text of Hindu philosophy could be inserted bodily into the pages of "Science and Health," and the insertion would run but small risk of being detected by any but the most careful student.

These striking parallels could be extended to great length would space permit; but where evidence is so clear, it is not necessary to multiply testimony. These facts prove beyond the possibility of successful contradiction, that Christian Science, instead of being of Christian origin, is traceable to the darkness of heathenism, its garments of apparent righteousness being worn only as a mask that it might bid for disciples from the church of Christ. "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works."

Contrary to Real Christianity

Having proved that this cult is related to heathenism, it is hardly necessary to show further that it is utterly contrary to Christianity. However, as atonement through the shed blood of Christ is a vital doctrine in the Christian faith, the conviction will be strengthened if this doctrine of the efficacy of the blood of Christ to cleanse from sin is shown to be entirely repudiated by the doctrine of Mrs. Eddy. Let us quote from her work:

The material blood of Jesus was no more efficacious to cleanse from sin when it was shed upon the "accursed tree" than when it was flowing in His veins, as He went daily about His Father's business.—"Science and Health," page 25.

Let us place in contrast with this the words of Paul:

Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood.

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.

Now with this evidence before us, and taking into consideration that the Bible nowhere ever hints of so vague and elusive a philosophy, it is difficult to escape the conviction that Mrs. Eddy was either a very diligent student of Eastern religion, or quaffing from the same virulent stream, has imbibed of its spirit, and under its intoxicating influence she fancies she has discovered the elixir of life. Filling her cup with this Babylonish wine, she offers it to ailing humanity as the only remedy for the "healing of the nations."

Unknown to Historic Christianity

It is because historic Christianity has known nothing of such a philosophy, that we are led to look elsewhere for its source. None of the great reformers, whose powerful ministry of the Word revolutionized the world, bringing about great moral and social reformations, ever dreamed of such doctrines as set forth in this so-called science. It has remained for Mrs. Eddy to give this new "light" to the world. But if the thought that she has been more favored of Heaven in the bestowal of light than were any of the Christian reformers, is hardly tenable, what attitude should the Christian assume toward the claim that this prophetess has received a greater revelation than Jesus Christ? Should it not be classed as that "other gospel" of which Paul warns in his epistle to the Galatians?

In the light of these facts, are we not justified in branding Christian Science as unsound doctrine? And as such it is a fulfilment of the prophecy concerning the last days which reads:

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Reader, the great prevalence of false isms so characteristic of the present generation, is a sign of the times, and should serve as a

warning that this sin-laden world has about run its course, and soon the Judge of all the world is to appear.