Page:Valid Objections to So-called Christian Science (1902).pdf/47

 of 13,000 adherents. It may be seen from these facts how serious a threat it is becoming.

Broadly speaking, Christian Science has manifested itself in two principal aspects: As an organized religion, and as a practice of the art of healing. But the one thing is bound up in the other; the one is as much opposed to the whole trend of modern thought and progress as the other. Its manifestation as a religion alone is, perhaps, not so serious in its probability of harm; for, divorced from the belief in the universal healing power of mind, it has but small foundation to stand upon, or from which to appeal to its votaries. The fact remains, that a large proportion of its adherents have become so by reason of their belief that they have been cured of some bodily ill. Yet it is accomplishing a good deal of evil in the moral and spiritual sphere.

In the first place, while claiming to be the religion of Jesus, it has asserted, and is asserting, that its principles were discovered and revealed by a woman, but thirty-five years ago. By doing this, it has practically denied to the apostles, the chosen messengers of the Lord himself, the right interpretation of the Gospel of Jesus to the world; and it assails