Chapter VI - Science, Theology, Medicine
Mathematics and scientific logic
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drawn, cannot be false. So in Christian Science there
drawn, cannot be false. So in Christian Science there
are no discords nor contradictions, because its logic is as
harmonious as the reasoning of an accurately stated syl-
logism or of a properly computed sum in arithmetic.
Truth is ever truthful, and can tolerate no error in
premise or conclusion.
Truth by inversion
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If you wish to know the spiritual fact, you can dis-
If you wish to know the spiritual fact, you can dis-
cover it by reversing the material fable, be the
fable pro or con, – be it in accord with your
preconceptions or utterly contrary to them.
Antagonistic theories
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Pantheism may be defined as a belief in the intelli-
Pantheism may be defined as a belief in the intelli-
gence of matter, – a belief which Science overthrows.
In those days there will be "great tribulation
such as was not since the beginning of the
world;" and earth will echo the cry, "Art thou [Truth]
come hither to torment us before the time?" Animal
magnetism, hypnotism, spiritualism, theosophy, agnos-
ticism, pantheism, and infidelity are antagonistic to true
being and fatal to its demonstration; and so are some
other systems.
Ontology needed
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We must abandon pharmaceutics, and take up ontol-
We must abandon pharmaceutics, and take up ontol-
ogy, – "the science of real being." We must look deep
into realism instead of accepting only the out-
ward sense of things. Can we gather peaches
from a pine-tree, or learn from discord the concord of
being? Yet quite as rational are some of the leading
illusions along the path which Science must tread in its
reformatory mission among mortals. The very name,
illusion, points to nothingness.
Reluctant guests
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The generous liver may object to the author's small
The generous liver may object to the author's small
estimate of the pleasures of the table. The sinner sees,
in the system taught in this book, that the demands of
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God must be met. The petty intellect is alarmed by con-
God must be met. The petty intellect is alarmed by con-
stant appeals to Mind. The licentious disposition is dis-
couraged over its slight spiritual prospects.
When all men are bidden to the feast, the ex-
cuses come. One has a farm, another has merchandise,
and therefore they cannot accept.
Excuses for ignorance
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It is vain to speak dishonestly of divine Science, which
It is vain to speak dishonestly of divine Science, which
destroys all discord, when you can demonstrate
the actuality of Science. It is unwise to doubt
if reality is in perfect harmony with God, divine Principle,
– if Science, when understood and demonstrated, will
destroy all discord, – since you admit that God is om-
nipotent; for from this premise it follows that good and
its sweet concords have all-power.
Children and adults
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Christian Science, properly understood, would dis-
Christian Science, properly understood, would dis-
abuse the human mind of material beliefs which war
against spiritual facts; and these material
beliefs must be denied and cast out to make
place for truth. You cannot add to the contents of a
vessel already full. Laboring long to shake the adult's
faith in matter and to inculcate a grain of faith in God, –
an inkling of the ability of Spirit to make the body har-
monious, – the author has often remembered our Master's
love for little children, and understood how truly such as
they belong to the heavenly kingdom.
All evil unnatural
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If thought is startled at the strong claim of Science
If thought is startled at the strong claim of Science
for the supremacy of God, or Truth, and doubts the su-
premacy of good, ought we not, contrari-
wise, to be astounded at the vigorous claims
of evil and doubt them, and no longer think it natural to
love sin and unnatural to forsake it, – no longer imagine
evil to be ever-present and good absent? Truth should