Chapter XI - Some Objections Answered
Weakness of material theories
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port of spiritual and eternal truths, when the two are so
port of spiritual and eternal truths, when the two are so
antagonistic that the material thought must become spir-
itualized before the spiritual fact is attained.
So-called material existence affords no evidence
of spiritual existence and immortality. Sin,
sickness, and death do not prove man's entity or immor-
tality. Discord can never establish the facts of harmony.
Matter is not the vestibule of Spirit.
Irreconciliable differences
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Jesus reasoned on this subject practically, and con-
Jesus reasoned on this subject practically, and con-
trolled sickness, sin, and death on the basis of his spir-
ituality. Understanding the nothingness of
material things, he spoke of flesh and Spirit
as the two opposites, – as error and Truth, not contrib-
uting in any way to each other's happiness and existence.
Jesus knew, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh
profiteth nothing."
Copartnership impossible
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There is neither a present nor an eternal copartner-
There is neither a present nor an eternal copartner-
ship between error and Truth, between flesh and Spirit.
God is as incapable of producing sin, sick-
ness, and death as He is of experiencing these
errors. How then is it possible for Him to create man
subject to this triad of errors, – man who is made in the
divine likeness?
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Does God create a material man out of Himself, Spirit?
Does God create a material man out of Himself, Spirit?
Does evil proceed from good? Does divine Love com-
mit a fraud on humanity by making man inclined to sin,
and then punishing him for it? Would any one call it
wise and good to create the primitive, and then punish its
derivative?
Two infinite creators absurd
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Does subsequent follow its antecedent? It does.
Does subsequent follow its antecedent? It does.
Was there original self-creative sin? Then there must
have been more than one creator, more than one God.