PHYSICAL diagnosis, or the art of classifying symptoms of disease, as defined by materia medica, is so wholly at variance with Christian Science practise that a discussion of the subject in its literature would seem to be entirely out of place were it not for the fact that the phenomena of disease force themselves upon the attention of the practitioner in nearly every case that is presented for healing.
The general belief in the reality of these phenomena, the erroneous conviction that disease is an intelligent something operating in or upon the physical structure, and the consequent attendent fear,—these have impelled the unfortunate sufferers thereof to seek the healing ministrations of Christian Science. It is therefore quite evident that if the practitioner views the situation through the same distorted mental sense, even in part, which is entertained by the patient,—looks upon the condition as diseased matter,—in just that degree will he too concede the reality of the suffering; and as Christian Science teaches him to repudiate every phenomenon of the discordant senses, he must know that disease is not a material thing or condition; that the case is not one of a sick man, but of false belief; that in order to be obedient to the rule and practise of Christian Science, he must refuse to entertain an erroneous sense of disease. The whole phenomena of discord must be regarded as untrue and unreal; and in spite of any and all arguments to the contrary, this integrity of thought must be sustained, through the understanding that man is a spiritual being, an idea of divine impartation and hence perfect.
Mrs. Eddy declares, "It is mental quackery to make disease a reality— to hold it as something seen and felt— and then to attempt its cure through Mind." She also says: "A physical diagnosis of disease—since mortal mind must be the cause of disease—tends to induce disease" (Science and Health, pp. 395, 370). Such a procedure is an evident admission of the reality of disease; that it is a condition of matter, and that a consideration of disease as an entity, and matter as intelligent, enters into the treatment of the case. Such a misconception of Christian Science is a perversion of both the letter and the spirit of its teachings and can result only in chaos, confusion, prolonged suffering to the unfortunate, and a denial of the only healing power.
