Chapter IV - Christian Science Versus Spiritualism
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consider whether it is the human mind or the divine
consider whether it is the human mind or the divine
Mind which is influencing one. What the prophets of
Jehovah did, the worshippers of Baal failed to do; yet
artifice and delusion claimed that they could equal the
work of wisdom.
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Science only can explain the incredible good and evil
Science only can explain the incredible good and evil
elements now coming to the surface. Mortals must find
refuge in Truth in order to escape the error of these latter
days. Nothing is more antagonistic to Christian Science
than a blind belief without understanding, for such a
belief hides Truth and builds on error.
Natural wonders
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Miracles are impossible in Science, and here Science
Miracles are impossible in Science, and here Science
takes issue with popular religions. The scientific mani-
festation of power is from the divine nature
and is not supernatural, since Science is an
explication of nature. The belief that the universe, in-
cluding man, is governed in general by material laws, but
that occasionally Spirit sets aside these laws, – this be-
lief belittles omnipotent wisdom, and gives to matter the
precedence over Spirit.
Conflicting standpoints
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It is contrary to Christian Science to suppose that life
It is contrary to Christian Science to suppose that life
is either material or organically spiritual. Between
Christian Science and all forms of superstition
a great gulf is fixed, as impassable as that be-
tween Dives and Lazarus. There is mortal mind-reading
and immortal Mind-reading. The latter is a revelation
of divine purpose through spiritual understanding, by
which man gains the divine Principle and explanation of
all things. Mortal mind-reading and immortal Mind‑
reading are distinctly opposite standpoints, from which
cause and effect are interpreted. The act of reading
mortal mind investigates and touches only human beliefs.
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Science is immortal and coordinate neither with the
Science is immortal and coordinate neither with the
premises nor with the conclusions of mortal beliefs.
Scientific foreseeing
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The ancient prophets gained their foresight from a
The ancient prophets gained their foresight from a
spiritual, incorporeal standpoint, not by foreshadowing
evil and mistaking fact for fiction, – predict-
ing the future from a groundwork of corpo-
reality and human belief. When sufficiently advanced
in Science to be in harmony with the truth of being, men
become seers and prophets involuntarily, controlled not
by demons, spirits, or demigods, but by the one Spirit.
It is the prerogative of the ever-present, divine Mind, and
of thought which is in rapport with this Mind, to know
the past, the present, and the future.
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Acquaintance with the Science of being enables us to
Acquaintance with the Science of being enables us to
commune more largely with the divine Mind, to foresee
and foretell events which concern the universal welfare,
to be divinely inspired, – yea, to reach the range of fetter-
less Mind.
The Mind unbounded
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To understand that Mind is infinite, not bounded by
To understand that Mind is infinite, not bounded by
corporeality, not dependent upon the ear and eye for
sound or sight nor upon muscles and bones
for locomotion, is a step towards the Mind‑
science by which we discern man's nature and existence.
This true conception of being destroys the belief of spirit-
ualism at its very inception, for without the concession of
material personalities called spirits, spiritualism has no
basis upon which to build.
Scientific foreknowing
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All we correctly know of Spirit comes from God, divine
All we correctly know of Spirit comes from God, divine
Principle, and is learned through Christ and Christian
Science. If this Science has been thoroughly
learned and properly digested, we can know
the truth more accurately than the astronomer can read