Chapter IV - Christian Science Versus Spiritualism
Scientific man
94:1
Jesus taught but one God, one Spirit, who makes man
Jesus taught but one God, one Spirit, who makes man
in the image and likeness of Himself, – of Spirit, not of
matter. Man reflects infinite Truth, Life, and
Love. The nature of man, thus understood,
includes all that is implied by the terms "image" and
"likeness" as used in Scripture. The truly Christian
and scientific statement of personality and of the relation
of man to God, with the demonstration which accompa-
nied it, incensed the rabbis, and they said: "Crucify him,
crucify him . . . by our law he ought to die, because he
made himself the Son of God."
94:12
The eastern empires and nations owe their false gov-
The eastern empires and nations owe their false gov-
ernment to the misconceptions of Deity there prevalent.
Tyranny, intolerance, and bloodshed, wherever found,
arise from the belief that the infinite is formed after the
pattern of mortal personality, passion, and impulse.
Ingratitude and denial
94:17
The progress of truth confirms its claims, and our
The progress of truth confirms its claims, and our
Master confirmed his words by his works. His healing-
power evoked denial, ingratitude, and be-
trayal, arising from sensuality. Of the ten
lepers whom Jesus healed, but one returned to give God
thanks, – that is, to acknowledge the divine Principle
which had healed him.
Spiritual insight
94:24
Our Master easily read the thoughts of mankind, and
Our Master easily read the thoughts of mankind, and
this insight better enabled him to direct those thoughts
aright; but what would be said at this period of an in-
fidel blasphemer who should hint that Jesus used his in-
cisive power injuriously? Our Master read mortal mind
on a scientific basis, that of the omnipresence of Mind.
An approximation of this discernment indicates spiritual
growth and union with the infinite capacities of the one
Mind. Jesus could injure no one by his Mind-reading.
95:1
The effect of his Mind was always to heal and to save,
The effect of his Mind was always to heal and to save,
and this is the only genuine Science of reading mortal
mind. His holy motives and aims were tra-
duced by the sinners of that period, as they
would be to-day if Jesus were personally present. Paul
said, "To be spiritually minded is life." We approach
God, or Life, in proportion to our spirituality, our fidel-
ity to Truth and Love; and in that ratio we know all
human need and are able to discern the thought of the
sick and the sinning for the purpose of healing them.
Error of any kind cannot hide from the law of God.
95:12
Whoever reaches this point of moral culture and good-
Whoever reaches this point of moral culture and good-
ness cannot injure others, and must do them good. The
greater or lesser ability of a Christian Scientist to discern
thought scientifically, depends upon his genuine spirit-
uality. This kind of mind-reading is not clairvoyance,
but it is important to success in healing, and is one of the
special characteristics thereof.
Christ's reappearance
95:19
We welcome the increase of knowledge and the end
We welcome the increase of knowledge and the end
of error, because even human invention must have its
day, and we want that day to be succeeded
by Christian Science, by divine reality. Mid-
night foretells the dawn. Led by a solitary star amid
the darkness, the Magi of old foretold the Messiahship
of Truth. Is the wise man of to-day believed, when he
beholds the light which heralds Christ's eternal dawn
and describes its effulgence?
Spiritual awakening
95:28
Lulled by stupefying illusions, the world is asleep
Lulled by stupefying illusions, the world is asleep
in the cradle of infancy, dreaming away the hours.
Material sense does not unfold the facts of
existence; but spiritual sense lifts human
consciousness into eternal Truth. Humanity advances