Chapter XI - Some Objections Answered
Serving two masters
347:1
"The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against
"The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against
the flesh." Who is ready to admit this?
347:3
It is said by one critic, that to verify this wonderful
It is said by one critic, that to verify this wonderful
philosophy Christian Science declares that whatever is
mortal or discordant has no origin, existence, nor real-
ness. Nothing really has Life but God, who is infinite
Life; hence all is Life, and death has no dominion. This
writer infers that if anything needs to be doctored, it
must be the one God, or Mind. Had he stated his syllo-
gism correctly, the conclusion would be that there is noth-
ing left to be doctored.
Essential element of Christianity
347:12
Critics should consider that the so-called mortal man
Critics should consider that the so-called mortal man
is not the reality of man. Then they would behold the
signs of Christ's coming. Christ, as the spir-
itual or true idea of God, comes now as of
old, preaching the gospel to the poor, heal-
ing the sick, and casting out evils. Is it error which
is restoring an essential element of Christianity, –
namely, apostolic, divine healing? No; it is the Science
of Christianity which is restoring it, and is the light
shining in darkness, which the darkness comprehends
not.
347:23
If Christian Science takes away the popular gods, –
If Christian Science takes away the popular gods, –
sin, sickness, and death, – it is Christ, Truth, who de-
stroys these evils, and so proves their nothingness.
347:26
The dream that matter and error are something
The dream that matter and error are something
must yield to reason and revelation. Then mortals
will behold the nothingness of sickness and sin, and
sin and sickness will disappear from consciousness.
The harmonious will appear real, and the inharmo-
nious unreal. These critics will then see that error
is indeed the nothingness, which they chide us for
348:1
naming nothing and which we desire neither to honor
naming nothing and which we desire neither to honor
nor to fear.
348:3
Medical theories virtually admit the nothingness of
Medical theories virtually admit the nothingness of
hallucinations, even while treating them as disease; and
who objects to this? Ought we not, then, to approve
any cure, which is effected by making the disease appear
to be – what it really is – an illusion?
All disease a delusion
348:8
Here is the difficulty: it is not generally understood how
Here is the difficulty: it is not generally understood how
one disease can be just as much a delusion as another. It
is a pity that the medical faculty and clergy
have not learned this, for Jesus established
this foundational fact, when devils, delusions, were cast
out and the dumb spake.
Elimination of sickness
348:14
Are we irreverent towards sin, or imputing too much
Are we irreverent towards sin, or imputing too much
power to God, when we ascribe to Him almighty Life
and Love? I deny His cooperation with evil,
because I desire to have no faith in evil or in
any power but God, good. Is it not well to eliminate from
so-called mortal mind that which, so long as it remains in
mortal mind, will show itself in forms of sin, sickness, and
death? Instead of tenaciously defending the supposed
rights of disease, while complaining of the suffering dis-
ease brings, would it not be well to abandon the defence,
especially when by so doing our own condition can be im-
proved and that of other persons as well?
Full fruitage yet to come
348:26
I have never supposed the world would immediately
I have never supposed the world would immediately
witness the full fruitage of Christian Science, or that sin,
disease, and death would not be believed for
an indefinite time; but this I do aver, that,
as a result of teaching Christian Science, ethics and
temperance have received an impulse, health has been
restored, and longevity increased. If such are the pres-