Page:The Origin of Christian Science.djvu/44

36 they so designate. The title of one of the books of Plotinus is, “On the Good or the One”, by which he means God or first principle; and he calls the “one” or God the “principle of all things”. Proclus says: “The one is the same as the good”. Spinoza used “substance” as a synonym for God, meaning thereby, as does Mrs. Eddy, that which exists in and of itself.

In addition to the specific points already noted, consider in general that Mrs. Eddy identifies God and certain qualities rather than ascribes them to him. Here so soon there comes before us a distinct tendency in Mrs. Eddy's thought corresponding to a distinct doctrine of the Neoplatonists, a tendency to raise the conception of the deity even to complete absence of all qualities. This is necessary for those who imagine that all qualities imply limitation or finiteness and understand by the infinity of God simply “allness”; and interpret it so as to destroy the personality of God.

Thus far in this chapter I have been stating the case in a general way only. Now I take up definite points and the argument will be plainer and more conclusive.

Coming then to the very heart of the matter, Mrs. Eddy is a pantheist. Christian Science is a form of pantheism. In saying this I am not calling Christian Science a bad name. I say it