Chapter XI - Some Objections Answered
Omnipotence set forth
345:1
to Deity, that Spirit and God are often regarded as syn-
to Deity, that Spirit and God are often regarded as syn-
onymous terms; and it is thus they are uniformly used
and understood in Christian Science. As it
is evident that the likeness of Spirit cannot be
material, does it not follow that God cannot be in His
unlikeness and work through drugs to heal the sick?
When the omnipotence of God is preached and His ab-
soluteness is set forth, Christian sermons will heal the
sick.
Contradictions not found
345:10
It is sometimes said, in criticising Christian Science,
It is sometimes said, in criticising Christian Science,
that the mind which contradicts itself neither knows
itself nor what it is saying. It is indeed no
small matter to know one's self; but in this
volume of mine there are no contradictory
statements, – at least none which are apparent to those
who understand its propositions well enough to pass
judgment upon them. One who understands Christian
Science can heal the sick on the divine Principle of Chris-
tian Science, and this practical proof is the only feasible
evidence that one does understand this Science.
345:21
Anybody, who is able to perceive the incongruity be-
Anybody, who is able to perceive the incongruity be-
tween God's idea and poor humanity, ought to be able
to discern the distinction (made by Christian Science)
between God's man, made in His image, and the sinning
race of Adam.
345:26
The apostle says: "For if a man think himself to be
The apostle says: "For if a man think himself to be
something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself."
This thought of human, material nothingness, which
Science inculcates, enrages the carnal mind and is the
main cause of the carnal mind's antagonism.
God's idea the ideal man
345:31
It is not the purpose of Christian Science to "educate
It is not the purpose of Christian Science to "educate
the idea of God, or treat it for disease," as is alleged
346:1
by one critic. I regret that such criticism confounds man
by one critic. I regret that such criticism confounds man
with Adam. When man is spoken of as made in God's
image, it is not sinful and sickly mortal man
who is referred to, but the ideal man, reflecting
God's likeness.
Nothingness of error
346:6
It is sometimes said that Christian Science teaches the
It is sometimes said that Christian Science teaches the
nothingness of sin, sickness, and death, and then teaches
how this nothingness is to be saved and healed.
The nothingness of nothing is plain; but we
need to understand that error is nothing, and that its
nothingness is not saved, but must be demonstrated in
order to prove the somethingness – yea, the allness –
of Truth. It is self-evident that we are harmonious only
as we cease to manifest evil or the belief that we suffer
from the sins of others. Disbelief in error destroys error,
and leads to the discernment of Truth. There are no
vacuums. How then can this demonstration be "fraught
with falsities painful to behold"?
Truth antidotes error
346:19
We treat error through the understanding of Truth,
We treat error through the understanding of Truth,
because Truth is error's antidote. If a dream ceases, it
is self-destroyed, and the terror is over. When
a sufferer is convinced that there is no reality
in his belief of pain, – because matter has no sensation,
hence pain in matter is a false belief, – how can he suffer
longer? Do you feel the pain of tooth-pulling, when you
believe that nitrous-oxide gas has made you unconscious?
Yet, in your concept, the tooth, the operation, and the
forceps are unchanged.
Serving two masters
346:29
Material beliefs must be expelled to make room for
Material beliefs must be expelled to make room for
spiritual understanding. We cannot serve both
God and mammon at the same time; but is
not this what frail mortals are trying to do? Paul says: