Chapter XII - Christian Science Practice
Mortal mind not a healer
401:1
mighty works "because of their unbelief" in Truth. Any
mighty works "because of their unbelief" in Truth. Any
human error is its own enemy, and works against itself;
it does nothing in the right direction and much
in the wrong. If so-called mind is cherishing
evil passions and malicious purposes, it is not a healer,
but it engenders disease and death.
Effect of opposites
401:7
If faith in the truth of being, which you impart men-
If faith in the truth of being, which you impart men-
tally while destroying error, causes chemicalization (as
when an alkali is destroying an acid), it is be-
cause the truth of being must transform the
error to the end of producing a higher manifestation.
This fermentation should not aggravate the disease, but
should be as painless to man as to a fluid, since matter
has no sensation and mortal mind only feels and sees
materially.
401:16
What I term chemicalization is the upheaval produced
What I term chemicalization is the upheaval produced
when immortal Truth is destroying erroneous mortal be-
lief. Mental chemicalization brings sin and sickness to
the surface, forcing impurities to pass away, as is the case
with a fermenting fluid.
Medicine and brain
401:21
The only effect produced by medicine is dependent upon
The only effect produced by medicine is dependent upon
mental action. If the mind were parted from the body,
could you produce any effect upon the brain
or body by applying the drug to either? Would
the drug remove paralysis, affect organization, or restore
will and action to cerebrum and cerebellum?
Skilful surgery
401:27
Until the advancing age admits the efficacy and suprem-
Until the advancing age admits the efficacy and suprem-
acy of Mind, it is better for Christian Scientists to leave
surgery and the adjustment of broken bones
and dislocations to the fingers of a surgeon,
while the mental healer confines himself chiefly to mental
reconstruction and to the prevention of inflammation.
402:1
Christian Science is always the most skilful surgeon, but
Christian Science is always the most skilful surgeon, but
surgery is the branch of its healing which will be last
acknowledged. However, it is but just to say that the
author has already in her possession well-authenticated
records of the cure, by herself and her students through
mental surgery alone, of broken bones, dislocated joints,
and spinal vertebrae.
Indestructible life of man
402:8
The time approaches when mortal mind will forsake
The time approaches when mortal mind will forsake
its corporeal, structural, and material basis, when im-
mortal Mind and its formations will be appre-
hended in Science, and material beliefs will
not interfere with spiritual facts. Man is indestructible
and eternal. Sometime it will be learned that mortal
mind constructs the mortal body with this mind's own
mortal materials. In Science, no breakage nor dislocation
can really occur. You say that accidents, injuries, and
disease kill man, but this is not true. The life of man is
Mind. The material body manifests only what mortal
mind believes, whether it be a broken bone, disease, or sin.
The evil of mesmerism
402:20
We say that one human mind can influence another and
We say that one human mind can influence another and
in this way affect the body, but we rarely remember that
we govern our own bodies. The error, mes-
merism – or hypnotism, to use the recent term
– illustrates the fact just stated. The operator would
make his subjects believe that they cannot act voluntarily
and handle themselves as they should do. If they yield
to this influence, it is because their belief is not better
instructed by spiritual understanding. Hence the proof
that hypnotism is not scientific; Science cannot produce
both disorder and order. The involuntary pleasure or
pain of the person under hypnotic control is proved to be
a belief without a real cause.