Chapter XII - Christian Science Practice
No real disease
394:1
to be hopeful is still better; but to understand that sick-
to be hopeful is still better; but to understand that sick-
ness is not real and that Truth can destroy its seeming
reality, is best of all, for this understanding is the uni-
versal and perfect remedy.
Recuperation mental
394:5
By conceding power to discord, a large majority of
By conceding power to discord, a large majority of
doctors depress mental energy, which is the only real
recuperative power. Knowledge that we
can accomplish the good we hope for, stimu-
lates the system to act in the direction which Mind points
out. The admission that any bodily condition is beyond
the control of Mind disarms man, prevents him from
helping himself, and enthrones matter through error. To
those struggling with sickness, such admissions are dis-
couraging, – as much so as would be the advice to a man
who is down in the world, that he should not try to rise
above his difficulties.
394:17
Experience has proved to the author the fallacy of
Experience has proved to the author the fallacy of
material systems in general, – that their theories are
sometimes pernicious, and that their denials are better
than their affirmations. Will you bid a man let evils
overcome him, assuring him that all misfortunes are from
God, against whom mortals should not contend? Will
you tell the sick that their condition is hopeless, unless it
can be aided by a drug or climate? Are material means
the only refuge from fatal chances? Is there no divine
permission to conquer discord of every kind with harmony,
with Truth and Love?
Arguing wrongly
394:28
We should remember that Life is God, and that God
We should remember that Life is God, and that God
is omnipotent. Not understanding Christian
Science, the sick usually have little faith in
it till they feel its beneficent influence. This shows
that faith is not the healer in such cases. The sick
395:1
unconsciously argue for suffering, instead of against it.
unconsciously argue for suffering, instead of against it.
They admit its reality, whereas they should deny it.
They should plead in opposition to the testimony of the
deceitful senses, and maintain man's immortality and
eternal likeness to God.
Divine authority
395:6
Like the great Exemplar, the healer should speak to
Like the great Exemplar, the healer should speak to
disease as one having authority over it, leaving Soul to
master the false evidences of the corporeal
senses and to assert its claims over mortal-
ity and disease. The same Principle cures both sin and
sickness. When divine Science overcomes faith in a car-
nal mind, and faith in God destroys all faith in sin and in
material methods of healing, then sin, disease, and death
will disappear.
Aids in sickness
395:15
Prayers, in which God is not asked to heal but is be-
Prayers, in which God is not asked to heal but is be-
sought to take the patient to Himself, do not benefit the
sick. An ill-tempered, complaining, or deceit-
ful person should not be a nurse. The nurse
should be cheerful, orderly, punctual, patient, full of
faith, – receptive to Truth and Love.
Mental quackery
395:21
It is mental quackery to make disease a reality – to
It is mental quackery to make disease a reality – to
hold it as something seen and felt – and then to attempt
its cure through Mind. It is no less erroneous
to believe in the real existence of a tumor, a
cancer, or decayed lungs, while you argue against their
reality, than it is for your patient to feel these ills in
physical belief. Mental practice, which holds disease
as a reality, fastens disease on the patient, and it may
appear in a more alarming form.
Effacing images of disease
395:30
The knowledge that brain-lobes cannot kill a man nor
The knowledge that brain-lobes cannot kill a man nor
affect the functions of mind would prevent the brain from
becoming diseased, though a moral offence is indeed the