On page 83 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy has written, "Science only can explain the incredible good and evil elements now coming to the surface." To the inevitable conflict thus arising, Christian Science declares the power of divine might to expose and destroy every form of materialism.
All Christian teaching upholds Christian ethics. But none heretofore has gone so far as to declare that evil is in reality nonexistent and powerless because God, divine Mind, is allpower and all-presence. Christian Science does go so far. Upon this differentiation its teaching stands alone, with rules and instructions for quickening Christian belief into demonstrable Christian power.
As the truth discovered by Mary Baker Eddy that sin, disease, and death appear only as the phenomena of a false and counterfeiting material mentality, which must yield its boastful claim to reality—as this truth is understood, practiced, and lived, it reveals the certainty of salvation to the individual, and so, eventually, to the world. Her discovery challenges conventional theology and conventional medicine. It calls upon Christianity to prove its truth and its worth by healing sickness as well as sin in the way Christ Jesus and his disciples healed, through spiritual means alone. Of necessity such radical Christianity must give out its message to the world and also safeguard itself from the materialism which it challenges. So The Mother Church. The First Church of Christ, Scientist, came into being. Mrs. Eddy established her church in the field of Christian thought as protective, progressive religious organization.
