Chapter IV - Christian Science Versus Spiritualism
Recollected friends
88:1
this not in dreamy sleep. In our day-dreams we can
this not in dreamy sleep. In our day-dreams we can
recall that for which the poet Tennyson expressed the
heart's desire, –
88:4
the touch of a vanished hand,
the touch of a vanished hand,
And the sound of a voice that is still.
88:6
The mind may even be cognizant of a present flavor and
The mind may even be cognizant of a present flavor and
odor, when no viand touches the palate and no scent
salutes the nostrils.
Illusions not ideas
88:9
How are veritable ideas to be distinguished from il-
How are veritable ideas to be distinguished from il-
lusions? By learning the origin of each. Ideas are
emanations from the divine Mind. Thoughts,
proceeding from the brain or from matter, are
offshoots of mortal mind; they are mortal material be-
liefs. Ideas are spiritual, harmonious, and eternal. Beliefs
proceed from the so-called material senses, which at one
time are supposed to be substance-matter and at another
are called spirits.
88:18
To love one's neighbor as one's self, is a divine idea;
To love one's neighbor as one's self, is a divine idea;
but this idea can never be seen, felt, nor understood
through the physical senses. Excite the organ of ven-
eration or religious faith, and the individual manifests
profound adoration. Excite the opposite development,
and he blasphemes. These effects, however, do not pro-
ceed from Christianity, nor are they spiritual phenomena,
for both arise from mortal belief.
Trance speaking illusion
88:26
Eloquence re-echoes the strains of Truth and Love.
Eloquence re-echoes the strains of Truth and Love.
It is due to inspiration rather than to erudition. It shows
the possibilities derived from divine Mind,
though it is said to be a gift whose endowment
is obtained from books or received from the
impulsion of departed spirits. When eloquence proceeds
from the belief that a departed spirit is speaking, who
89:1
can tell what the unaided medium is incapable of know-
can tell what the unaided medium is incapable of know-
ing or uttering? This phenomenon only shows that the
beliefs of mortal mind are loosed. Forgetting her igno-
rance in the belief that another mind is speaking through
her, the devotee may become unwontedly eloquent. Hav-
ing more faith in others than in herself, and believing
that somebody else possesses her tongue and mind, she
talks freely.
89:9
Destroy her belief in outside aid, and her eloquence
Destroy her belief in outside aid, and her eloquence
disappears. The former limits of her belief return. She
says, "I am incapable of words that glow, for I am un-
educated." This familiar instance reaffirms the Scrip-
tural word concerning a man, "As he thinketh in his heart,
so is he." If one believes that he cannot be an orator with-
out study or a superinduced condition, the body responds
to this belief, and the tongue grows mute which before
was eloquent.
Scientific improvisation
89:18
Mind is not necessarily dependent upon educational
Mind is not necessarily dependent upon educational
processes. It possesses of itself all beauty and poetry,
and the power of expressing them. Spirit,
God, is heard when the senses are silent. We
are all capable of more than we do. The influence or
action of Soul confers a freedom, which explains the phe-
nomena of improvisation and the fervor of untutored lips.
Divine origination
89:25
Matter is neither intelligent nor creative. The tree is
Matter is neither intelligent nor creative. The tree is
not the author of itself. Sound is not the originator of
music, and man is not the father of man. Cain
very naturally concluded that if life was in the
body, and man gave it, man had the right to take it away.
This incident shows that the belief of life in matter was
"a murderer from the beginning."
89:32
If seed is necessary to produce wheat, and wheat to
If seed is necessary to produce wheat, and wheat to