By focusing their thought on their special belief, they bring together
sophistry, argument, example and so-called proof that gives them
facility in arguing the case or expounding their doctrine.
[Sidenote: Christian Science.]
You can make no gain in trying to argue with a Christian Scientist. You
ask for concrete rules, definite answers and proofs other than their
flat statements, and you are told you have not the understanding--you do
not view the subject from the right plane, and that the truth cannot be
shown you. You are told to have faith and belief, to eliminate
antagonism, and to study "Science and Health," and you will receive the
divine spirit and see the light.
The Scientist is sincere; he shows you "Science and Health" with a lot
of testimonials in the back to prove that Christian Science cures
disease. Every patent medicine, every science, every system of healing
has testimonials by the hundreds.
Scientists say there is no disease, no material--that we are only spirit
or soul or thought--that we are not matter but mind. Health, they tell
us, is truth and disease is error. They deny disease, yet "Science and
Health" and the midweek experience meetings have testimonials of disease
cured by Christian Science.
There is much truth in Christian Science. People are helped by it;
people are sincere in their belief in it, but that Christian Science is
all truth, all-powerful, all-right, all-sufficient, cannot be proven.
What about the people who have gone hence before Christian Science was
ever heard of?
The theological religion of to-day differs radically in practice and
belief from what it was fifty years ago.
If the Protestant religion be all truth, what became of our religious
ancestors who died before Martin Luther found the truth?
[Sidenote: The Spirit of Tolerance.]
I have no quarrel with the Christian Scientist, the Protestant, the
Roman Catholic, the Buddhist or the Mohammedan. I must be generous and
broad enough to admit that others have the right to think and be
sincere. All sciences have truth, but no science, sect, cult, dogma or
creed is ALL truth.
Sincerity is evidence of honest conviction, but that your sincerity in
your belief must be accepted by me as proof that I should believe as you
do, is, I believe, the place where I have the undoubted right to say: "I
reserve the right to my own conclusions, and I would be unjust to myself
if I should force myself to accept your viewpoint without fully
satisfying myself that you were right."
So, because a person is sincere in a conviction that is contrary to your
conscientious belief, do not be disturbed. There is no need to swerve
from your own common sense analysis of the matter, or be convinced
against your better judgment.
No one possesses all the truth. It is for you and me to do our plain
duty as we see it--to do the best we can each day in act and thought and
word.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account