Chapter VI - Science, Theology, Medicine
Unescapable dilemma
119:1
When we endow matter with vague spiritual power,
When we endow matter with vague spiritual power,
that is, when we do so in our theories, for of course we
cannot really endow matter with what it does
not and cannot possess, – we disown the Al-
mighty, for such theories lead to one of two things. They
either presuppose the self-evolution and self-government
of matter, or else they assume that matter is the product
of Spirit. To seize the first horn of this dilemma and con-
sider matter as a power in and of itself, is to leave the cre-
ator out of His own universe; while to grasp the other
horn of the dilemma and regard God as the creator of
matter, is not only to make Him responsible for all disas-
ters, physical and moral, but to announce Him as their
source, thereby making Him guilty of maintaining perpet-
ual misrule in the form and under the name of natural
law.
God and nature
119:17
In one sense God is identical with nature, but this na-
In one sense God is identical with nature, but this na-
ture is spiritual and is not expressed in matter. The law‑
giver, whose lightning palsies or prostrates in
death the child at prayer, is not the divine ideal
of omnipresent Love. God is natural good, and is repre-
sented only by the idea of goodness; while evil should be
regarded as unnatural, because it is opposed to the nature
of Spirit, God.
The sun and Soul
119:25
In viewing the sunrise, one finds that it contradicts
In viewing the sunrise, one finds that it contradicts
the evidence before the senses to believe that the earth
is in motion and the sun at rest. As astron-
omy reverses the human perception of the
movement of the solar system, so Christian Science re-
verses the seeming relation of Soul and body and makes
body tributary to Mind. Thus it is with man, who
is but the humble servant of the restful Mind, though it
120:1
seems otherwise to finite sense. But we shall never under-
seems otherwise to finite sense. But we shall never under-
stand this while we admit that soul is in body or mind in
matter, and that man is included in non-intelligence.
Soul, or Spirit, is God, unchangeable and eternal; and
man coexists with and reflects Soul, God, for man is God's
image.
Reversal of testimony
120:7
Science reverses the false testimony of the physical
Science reverses the false testimony of the physical
senses, and by this reversal mortals arrive at the funda-
mental facts of being. Then the question in-
evitably arises: Is a man sick if the material
senses indicate that he is in good health? No! for matter
can make no conditions for man. And is he well if the
senses say he is sick? Yes, he is well in Science in which
health is normal and disease is abnormal.
Health and the senses
120:15
Health is not a condition of matter, but of Mind; nor
Health is not a condition of matter, but of Mind; nor
can the material senses bear reliable testimony on the sub-
ject of health. The Science of Mind-healing
shows it to be impossible for aught but Mind
to testify truly or to exhibit the real status of man. There-
fore the divine Principle of Science, reversing the testi-
mony of the physical senses, reveals man as harmoniously
existent in Truth, which is the only basis of health; and
thus Science denies all disease, heals the sick, overthrows
false evidence, and refutes materialistic logic.
120:25
Any conclusion pro or con, deduced from supposed sen-
Any conclusion pro or con, deduced from supposed sen-
sation in matter or from matter's supposed consciousness
of health or disease, instead of reversing the testimony of
the physical senses, confirms that testimony as legitimate
and so leads to disease.
Historic illustrations
120:30
When Columbus gave freer breath to the
When Columbus gave freer breath to the
globe, ignorance and superstition chained the
limbs of the brave old navigator, and disgrace and star-