Chapter VI - Science, Theology, Medicine
Healthful theology
139:1
heals the sick and causes the wicked to "forsake his way,
heals the sick and causes the wicked to "forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts." It was our Mas-
ter's theology which the impious sought to destroy.
Marvels and reformations
139:4
From beginning to end, the Scriptures are full of
From beginning to end, the Scriptures are full of
accounts of the triumph of Spirit, Mind, over matter.
Moses proved the power of Mind by what men
called miracles; so did Joshua, Elijah, and
Elisha. The Christian era was ushered in with signs and
wonders. Reforms have commonly been attended with
bloodshed and persecution, even when the end has been
brightness and peace; but the present new, yet old, re-
form in religious faith will teach men patiently and wisely
to stem the tide of sectarian bitterness, whenever it flows
inward.
Science obscured
139:15
The decisions by vote of Church Councils as to what
The decisions by vote of Church Councils as to what
should and should not be considered Holy Writ; the man-
ifest mistakes in the ancient versions; the
thirty thousand different readings in the Old
Testament, and the three hundred thousand in the New,
– these facts show how a mortal and material sense stole
into the divine record, with its own hue darkening to some
extent the inspired pages. But mistakes could neither
wholly obscure the divine Science of the Scriptures seen
from Genesis to Revelation, mar the demonstration of
Jesus, nor annul the healing by the prophets, who foresaw
that "the stone which the builders rejected" would be-
come "the head of the corner."
Opponents benefited
139:28
Atheism, pantheism, theosophy, and agnosticism are
Atheism, pantheism, theosophy, and agnosticism are
opposed to Christian Science, as they are to ordinary re-
ligion; but it does not follow that the profane
or atheistic invalid cannot be healed by Chris-
tian Science. The moral condition of such a man de-
140:1
mands the remedy of Truth more than it is needed in most
mands the remedy of Truth more than it is needed in most
cases; and Science is more than usually effectual in the
treatment of moral ailments.
God invisible to the senses
140:4
That God is a corporeal being, nobody can truly affirm.
That God is a corporeal being, nobody can truly affirm.
The Bible represents Him as saying: "Thou canst not
see My face; for there shall no man see Me
and live." Not materially but spiritually we
know Him as divine Mind, as Life, Truth, and Love. We
shall obey and adore in proportion as we apprehend the
divine nature and love Him understandingly, warring no
more over the corporeality, but rejoicing in the affluence
of our God. Religion will then be of the heart and not of
the head. Mankind will no longer be tyrannical and pro-
scriptive from lack of love, – straining out gnats and
swallowing camels.
The true worship
140:16
We worship spiritually, only as we cease to worship
We worship spiritually, only as we cease to worship
materially. Spiritual devoutness is the soul of Chris-
tianity. Worshipping through the medium of
matter is paganism. Judaic and other rituals
are but types and shadows of true worship. "The true
worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in
truth."
Anthropomorphism
140:23
The Jewish tribal Jehovah was a man-projected God,
The Jewish tribal Jehovah was a man-projected God,
liable to wrath, repentance, and human changeableness.
The Christian Science God is universal, eter-
nal, divine love, which changeth not and caus-
eth no evil, disease, nor death. It is indeed mournfully
true that the older Scripture is reversed. In the begin-
ing God created man in His, God's, image; but mor-
tals would procreate man, and make God in their own
human image. What is the god of a mortal, but a mortal
magnified?