Christian Science
Christian science is the given to
one of the most unChristian and unscientific sects in
existence, of which the devil is the father and Mrs. Mary
Baker Eddy is the mother. Almost every sect in existence
has interspersed with its numerous errors a few fragments
of truth; but Christian science has less truth and more
error than any crooked creed of which I know. In fact it
would be putting it very little, if any, too strong to say
that every principle taken separately or collectively is
purely of devilish origin.
The origin of many of the
principles which go to make up Christian science is buried
in the heart of ancient mythology, heathen philosophy, and
pagan superstition; but the conglomeration of heathenism,
superstition, pantheism, atheism, hypnotism, and devil
power known to the world today as Christian science, owes
its origin as we have before intimated, to Mrs. Eddy and
the devil. The statements we have here made are clear and
plain, but not exaggerated in the least, as we shall now
proceed to prove. The first point we wish to notice is
that Christian science is false and deceptive in its name,
and is not what it is claimed to be. It is neither
Christian nor scientific, but directly the opposite.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE ANTICHRISTIAN. 1.
It is antichristian, or antichrist, because it denies the
incarnation of Christ, which is the first principle of
Christianity. Here are the words of Mrs. Eddy: "God
cannot become finite and so be limited WITHIN MATERIAL
BOUNDS." Even if Christian scientists were to
acknowledge that Christ was as we are—sin excepted, or
that He was "made like unto His brethren," they
would still deny His literal incarnation, as they do not
believe that any" thing is material. "Beloved,
believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they
are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into
the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit
that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is
of God; and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus
Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is
that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it
should come; and even now already is it in the
world." 1 John 4:1-3.
By Mrs. Eddy's own statement and
the testimony of eternal truth she denies and scoffs at
the fundamental principle of Christianity, and a p p I i e
s the name of Christian to the very theory that denies
Christianity. The very doctrine that to the mind of Mrs.
Eddy appears Christian or Christlike, is what the apostle
John calls antichrist. Having learned this much of Mrs.
Eddy's judgment the reader will not be surprised at what
is to come.
2. They deny the personality of
God. "God is the principle of the universe."
This means—if it means anything—that God is not a
person, but a principle and has no existence apart from
His work. And that the student of Christian science may
not be mistaken in her meaning Mrs. Eddy further says:
"We think of God no longer as a distinct personality,
but as ever" present and impersonal Life, Truth,
Love, Divine Mind." This is a pure and unadulterated
principle of Oriental pantheism, and a positive denial of
a personal God. Pantheism teaches that the universe taken
or conceived of as a whole, is God; that there is no God
but the combined forces and laws which are manifested in
the existing universe. Who can fail to see the undoubted
identity in this teaching and the atheistic statements of
Christian scientists? "God is not a person, but a
principle." This means that when God said, "Thou
canst not see my face" (Ex. 33:20), He was mistaken
or deceived in Himself, as a principle could not have a
face. It also means that John was using superfluous
language when he said, "No man has seen God at any
time" (John 1:18); for if God is Life, Love, etc., it
would be wholly unnecessary to say that no man has seen
Him, as all are aware that such elements as life and love
cannot be seen.
It further means that all the
inspired writers from Moses to St. John were badly in
error in always applying persona! pronouns to God, as they
should be applied to persons only. It also means that God
Himself was mistaken when He said, "I AM THAT I
AM." According to Christian science He should have
said, "It is that it is," as "I" is
applied to persons only; and in speaking of such elements
as love, life, and truth we should always say
"it." Christian science makes God an absolute,
impersonal, ever changing, and boundless "it,"
while we have always supposed that God is a person,
because the Bible says so. Wonderful revelation of science
and health!
If anyone doubts what I have said
about Mrs. Eddy's teaching concerning the personality of
God, I refer him to pages 377. 378, 393, and many other
places in "Science and Health."
(As there have been several revisions of
this book the pages may sometimes vary a little.)
Mrs. Eddy also denies the
personality of Satan in the same strong terms in which she
denies the personality of God. Moreover, she denies the
existence of sin, and thus overthrows the atonement and
makes a fool of the Son of God, in that He came to die for
the eradication of a thing or a something which never
existed. She further believes that Christ was God only as
every other man is God, and even claims that His death was
caused by animal magnetism. (See "Science and
Health," page 516.)
Mrs. Eddy and her followers are
antichristian in their doctrine of healing, which is a
main spoke in their wheel. They deny sickness, pain, and
death, and make the healing power of God of no effect and
the gift of the Spirit an illusion. Mrs. Eddy says,
"There is no sickness." James says, "Is any
sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church
(not Christian science healers); and let them pray over
him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and
the prayer of faith shall save the SICK and the Lord shall
raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be
forgiven him." James 5:14, 15.
Christian scientists also charge
for their healing while Jesus says, "Freely ye have
received, freely give." In this again it proves
itself antichristian and antichrist. Mrs. Eddy also sells
a souvenir spoon, in the bowl of which is an etching of
her home, and on the handle is the likeness of
"Mother Eddy." These spoons are made in gold and
silver and sell for five dollars and three dollars,
respectively. "Mother Eddy" asks her followers
to buy these as a means of grace and healing.
Christian scientists are also
unchristian in their practice of making merchandise of the
gospel, or preaching for money. Mrs. Mary Mason Baker
Glover Patterson Eddy, the mother of Christian science,
has accumulated already a small fortune. At one time she
charged three dollars for twelve lectures, or lessons,
that she gave each class that attended her metaphysical
college. This looks to me like being "greedy for
filthy lucre." One Christian scientist of Peoria,
Ill., claims that his religion cost him $1,000. Yet he has
always been a poor man, and possibly always will remain so
if he clings to Christian science; and what is worse, he
will be a pauper at the judgment without eternity's gold
and the wedding garments of righteousness.
The following is a short comparison
of the doctrines of Christian science and the Bible, by A.
J. Gordon.
SCIENCE AND HEALTH. "Jesus
never ransomed man by paying the debt that sin incurs;
whosoever sins must suffer." —Vol. II, p. 189.
BIBLE. "In whom we have redemption through his blood,
even the forgiveness of sins." Col. 1:14.
SCIENCE AND HEALTH. "Sin is
not forgiven; we cannot escape its penalty."—Vol.
II, p. 165. BIBLE. "If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.
SCIENCE AND HEALTH.
"Petitioning a personal Deity is a misapprehension of
the source and means of all good and blessedness;
therefore it cannot be beneficial."—Vol. II, p.
170. BIBLE. "In everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto
God." Phil. 4:6.
Christian science denies the
personality of both God and the devil; does not believe
the incarnation of Christ; scoffs at the idea of prayer
and the heavenly birth; considers sickness, sin, pain, and
death illusion; divines for money; and yet its blind
devotees lean upon the Lord and say, "Is not the Lord
among us? no evil can come upon us." Micah 3:11. No
one but a person
with a seared conscience and a
reprobate mind could christen such a mass of antichristian
tenets as Mrs. Eddy has Christian science. How can a thing
be Christian which denies every principle of Christianity?
Here are a few more of Dr. Gordon's
comparisons of the Bible and Christian science, that are
very interesting and instructive. These comparisons
clearly prove that Christian science contradicts the
Bible; and anything that contradicts the Bible cannot be
Christian.
SCIENCE AND HEALTH. "Science
decides matter or mortal body to be nothing but a belief
and an illusion."—Vol. 11, p. 193. BIBLE. "Let
not sin therefore reign in your mortal body." Rom.
6:12. "He shall also quicken your mortal bodies by
his Spirit that dwelleth in you." Rom. 8:11.
SCIENCE AND HEALTH. "Man is
coeternal and coexistent with God, and they are
inseparable in Divine Science."—Vol. I, p. 17 .
BIBLE. "So God created man in his own image, in the
image of God created he him." Gen. 1:27.
SCIENCE AND HEALTH. "Mortal
body and material man are delusions that spiritual
understanding destroys."—Vol. I, p. 27. BIBLE.
"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the
ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of
life." Gen. 2:7.
SCIENCE AND HEALTH. "The term
souls, or spirits, is as improper as Gods."—Vol. I,
p. 404. BIBLE. "But ye are come unto Mount Sion,...
and to the spirits of just men made perfect." Heb.
12:22, 23.
SCIENCE AND HEALTH. "Man is
incapable of sin.... Man cannot depart from
holiness." Vol. I, p. 541. BIBLE.— "For all
have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
Romans 3:23.
SCIENCE AND HEALTH. "God is
too pure to behold (i.e., cannot behold)
iniquity."—Vol. I, p. 125. BIBLE. "The eyes of
the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the
good." Proverbs 15:3.
SCIENCE AND HEALTH. "Principle
(i.e., God) never pardons either sins or
mistakes."—Vol.I, p.420. BIBLE. "If we confess
our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins." 1 John 1:9.
SCIENCE AND HEALTH. "There is
no death."—Vol. I, p. 531. BIBLE. "It is
appointed unto man once to die." Heb. 9:27.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
UNSCIENTIFIC.—Science is knowledge—knowledge of
principles and causes. Real science is truth, and truth
never contradicts itself. Anything that is scientific can
be demonstrated, and thus it follows that whatever can not
be demonstrated is unscientific.
1. Christian science, so-called, is
unscientific because it is not knowledge and cannot be
demonstrated. How does Mrs. Eddy know that God is
impersonal; that there is no devil, no sin, no sickness,
no death? Men who have known more of God in one hour than
Mrs. Eddy will ever know—such men as Jesus of Nazareth,
Peter, Paul, James, and John, for examples; yes, and
thousands of others — have told us that God is a person;
that the devil, sin, sickness, and death are real, and
then shall we believe the deceptive vision of a woman who
is inferior to any of them, and can not demonstrate what
she teaches? Verily, nay! Inspiration from God, the
highest source of knowledge says that "Christ was
made like unto his brethren;" that "he took upon
himself the form of man"—sin excepted. It further
tells us that God is a person, and, notwithstanding the
affirmation of Mrs. Eddy to the contrary, we must believe
it. Compare, if you will, the following clear, concise,
and scientific statements of Joseph Cook in the following
five propositions with the senseless statements of
Christian science.
1. "There cannot be thought
without a thinker.
2. "There is thought in the universe.
3. "There is therefore a thinker in the
universe.
4. "But a thinker is a person.
5. "Therefore, there is a personal thinker in
the universe."
Placed beside such comprehensive
statements as these, Christian science looks about as
clear as an ocean fog, and we should almost forget that it
is a science but for its name. Christian science has not
demonstrated, and cannot demonstrate, what it teaches;
hence it is not and cannot be a science.
2. It is unscientific because it
contradicts itself, which science does not and cannot do.
Christian science denies the existence of sin, and then
gives expression to the following contradictory words:
"Evil in its manifold forms presents a problem to the
world, not lending itself to easy solution."
Christian scientists deny the
existence of sickness, and then flood the world with
publications on healing and charge exorbitant prices for
healing diseases. If there is no such a thing as sickness
they should be arrested for obtaining money under false
pretense. It is certainly the height of foolishness for
people to pay Christian science healers enormous prices
for healing them of chronic or inflammatory nothingness.
We once heard of a man who called for a Christian science
healer and was told that he was not sick, but only had a
"belief," and was instructed to believe that he
was in good health and all would be well. After the
treatment was ended the healer presented a bill for $1.00,
and the patient replied; "You do not want $l.00; you
have only a 'belief,' so you just believe that you have
the dollar, and you will have it."
A gentleman of the Christian
science faith one time received serious injury in his
foot, and after being helped to the house he was seated on
a chair with his foot supported by a pillow on another
chair, when a friend entered and asked what was the
matter, and the crippled man replied: "The devil is
trying to make me believe that I have my foot crushed, but
I will not believe him."
Christian scientists constantly
affirm that material existence is all illusion and vapor,
and at the same time they use terms referring to material
things and speak of them as if they were real. They say
there is no devil, and then talk of the devil and his
works. They say there is no sin, sickness, nor torment,
and yet speak of them constantly. They say there is no
death, yet they all talk of death and all die. Consistency
with them is not a jewel.
Christian science denies all
science, and says there is no earth, no sun, no stars, no
satellites, no anything; all is void and empty. Thus they
give the lie to God and men, and stepping out into space
they defy nothing or nobody to dislocate them from
nowhere. Nonsense! you say; and so it is, and we could
fill many pages with just such nonsensical statements from
Christian science doctrines. "When reading the
authorities on this subject," says Dr. Bell, "I
have often been reminded of the talks I have had with the
insane."
Christian science, as we have
before stated, is a mixture of mythology, hypnotism, and
Oriental philosophy; and as we have now proved it to be
antichristian and unscientific, we shall make a few
comparisons of Oriental philosophy and Christian science.
1. "Brahma is the universal
spirit, the ground and cause of all existence; but it is
not an individual, personal Deity."— Brahmanism.
"God is not a personal Deity, but a principle."
—Christian Science.
2. "The human soul is a
portion of this universal spirit." —Brahmanism.
"Man is co eternal and co existent with God, and they
are inseparable in Divine Science."—Christian
Science.
As we have before clearly proved,
Christian science bears a strong resemblance to pantheism.
It has also stolen a few principles from hypnotism, as
will be seen from the following statements. After the
operator has been instructed to run a pin through the skin
of the wrist of his subject, hypnotism prescribes the
following treatment: "There is no pain here. There
never has been any pain there." Before hypnosis you
are instructed to say you are dead to all sense of pain,
you feel no pain whatever. No pain, no pain! How very much
this sounds like Christian science treatment: "No
sin, no sickness, no pain."
Christian science is not, as it is
claimed to be, a new discovery. It is only a new
collection of diabolical lies that have been used by the
devil and his servants for years. Christian science,
hypnotism, Weltmerism, Dowieism, and hundreds of other
"isms" are only old servants of the devil
redressed to gain attention and excite curiosity. And we
warn every child of God in the name of Jesus to beware of
all such soul destroying institutions.
In conclusion let me say that
according to Mrs. Eddy's doctrine God is anything and
everything. For if, as she affirms, "God is all, and
all is God," then everything we see, hear, feel,
taste, or smell is God; and we may worship stones, trees,
mountains, woods, fire, water, animals, and anything in
existence, either animate or inanimate. If this is true
then the heathen are right, and we poor blinded Christians
wander in darkness and superstition and worship that which
does not exist—a personal God.
Christian science is of the devil
and the purest type of superstition and ignorance. May God
help every honest soul to flee from it and find refuge in
the God of the Bible. Amen.
