Chapter XII - Christian Science Practice
Arguing wrongly
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
396:1
worst of diseases. One should never hold in mind
worst of diseases. One should never hold in mind
the thought of disease, but should efface from
thought all forms and types of disease, both for
one's own sake and for that of the patient.
Avoid talking disease
396:5
Avoid talking illness to the patient. Make no unne-
Avoid talking illness to the patient. Make no unne-
cessary inquiries relative to feelings or disease. Never
startle with a discouraging remark about re-
covery, nor draw attention to certain symp-
toms as unfavorable, avoid speaking aloud the name of
the disease. Never say beforehand how much you have
to contend with in a case, nor encourage in the patient's
thought the expectation of growing worse before a crisis
is passed.
False testimony refuted
396:14
The refutation of the testimony of material sense is
The refutation of the testimony of material sense is
not a difficult task in view of the conceded falsity of this
testimony. The refutation becomes arduous,
not because the testimony of sin or disease is
true, but solely on account of the tenacity of belief in its
truth, due to the force of education and the overwhelm-
ing weight of opinions on the wrong side, – all teaching
that the body suffers, as if matter could have sensation.
Healthful explanation
396:22
At the right time explain to the sick the power which
At the right time explain to the sick the power which
their beliefs exercise over their bodies. Give them divine
and wholesome understanding, with which to
combat their erroneous sense, and so efface the
images of sickness from mortal mind. Keep distinctly in
thought that man is the offspring of God, not of man;
that man is spiritual, not material; that Soul is Spirit,
outside of matter, never in it, never giving the body life
and sensation. It breaks the dream of disease to under-
stand that sickness is formed by the human mind, not by
matter nor by the divine Mind.