Never since the days of early Christianity has there been a religious sect or denomination so misunderstood and misrepresented as Christian Science. A great many people unfamiliar with the teachings of the Christian Science text-book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, believe Christian Science to be the very opposite of what it in fact is. It is regarded by many as a foe to the Church, whereas in truth and in fact it is the best friend the Church has or can have, for its sole purpose is to build up the Church of Christ by elevating the standard of Christianity and bringing humanity into an understanding of the essential import of the Holy Scriptures in all their saving and healing efficacy.
It is rejected not because it is understood, but because it is not understood. There is not a single instance in which it has been understood and honestly accepted where it is not firmly adhered to. And why? Because its understanding and acceptance bring with them such convincing, nay, such overpowering evidences of its truth that to gainsay or reject it is absolutely impossible. It were as availing to ask one to disbelieve that the sun shines or that one does not exist as to ask a genuine Christian Scientist to reject the verity of the experiences and demonstrations which have been his as the result of his study of Science and Health; and this too because he is learning thereby to interpret and practically apply to his own life the precepts of the Bible.
A principal, and most natural reason why Christian Science is so misunderstood is that many people have been taught what they supposed to be Christian Science, when in fact their teaching has been the farthest possible remove therefrom. The majority of these are honest. Becoming dissatisfied with old conditions they have in good faith cast about for something more satisfying, and falling into the hands of pseudo-scientists have accepted their false interpretations of the text-book supposing them to be true, and have been thereby led into a state of mental darkness vastly worse than their former one.
