ONE of the latest dictionaries defines "diagnosis" as "the process of determining by examination the nature and circumstances of a diseased condition; the decision reached from such an examination; hence, any analogous examination or analysis" (New Century Dictionary). The word "diagnosis," therefore, can be applied to an analysis or examination of data or indications for the purpose of drawing conclusions incidental to a Christian Science treatment.
This Science can be practiced by students at any point between beginning and having become most proficient. The mental processes of different practitioners may be laborious and slow or may be quick and spontaneous. To some extent, however, all who practice this religion, whether for healing or for other purposes, have use for its diagnosis.
Naturally, the Christian Science diagnosis must be distinguished from any or every other; hence, Mrs. Eddy has made this distinction explicitly. She has made it with reference to ordinary medicine in "Christian Healing" 12:4-14 and in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" 462: 20. She has made it with respect to homeopathy in Science and Health 156:28. And she has distinguished the spiritual insight required for Christian Science practice from all other mind-reading in Science and Health 85: 1-18 and 94: 28-18. Thus, the last citation ends (95:13-18) as follows: "The greater or lesser ability of a Christian Scientist to discern thought scientifically, depends upon his genuine spirituality. This kind of mind-reading is not clairvoyance, but it is important to success in healing, and is one of the special characteristics thereof."
The need for mental diagnosis in the practice of Christian Science results from the nature of this remedy. Described in the broadest terms, the practice of this religion consists of detecting the error or evil in human thought, and avoiding or destroying it with divine thought. To do the best work, therefore, one must learn to distinguish positively between evil and good in all situations; one must become able to discern the error which is to be excluded or cast out with the power of Truth. (See "Miscellaneous Writings," by Mrs. Eddy, 117:4-9; and Science and Health 233:17; 252:8; 323:3.)
Christ Jesus once said, "There is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known" (Luke 12:2). Mrs. Eddy, also, has spoken to the same effect, and more particularly: "Error of any kind cannot hide from the law of God" (Science and Health, p. 95). The spiritual truth in these quoted sayings is particularly valuable in the practice of Christian Science for healing. For the purpose of healing, this Science traces all physical disorders to mental causes, and then effects its cure by eradicating them. Mrs. Eddy has explained this process at many places in her writings. (For instances, see Science and Health 184:6; 377:16; 418:16.)
Three of the Gospels record an incident in which Christ Jesus healed a man by tracing palsy to his sins and then forgiving or destroying them. (See Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:3-12; Luke 5:17-26.) In contrast, the fourth Gospel records an incident in which the Master healed a blind man, and said, "Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him" (John 9:1-7). From both of these incidents, the conclusions can be drawn that disease may or may not result from what is commonly called sin, that it may involve only the acceptance of the general belief in disease, but that it always furnishes an occasion for healing by the exercise of power derived from God. Furthermore, these incidents show that Christian healing, as practiced by him who instituted it, includes mental diagnosis.
In full accord with original Christianity, Christian Science asserts and proves that disease is liable to result from moral fault or sin. (See Science and Health 419:1.) In further accord, this Science asserts and proves that all disease consists of and depends on human belief, whether it involves sin or not. (See Science and Health 377:26; 493:18; 495:6.) Thus, Mrs. Eddy has said. "The author never knew a patient who did not recover when the belief of the disease had gone" (Science and Health, p. 377). One of her best explanations as to how a general belief may affect a particular person is applied to drugs (Science and Health 155:3), but the same explanation can be applied to diseases; for diseases, no less than drugs, get their inception, their persistence, and all their characteristics from material thought.
Christian Science teaches that "a physical diagnosis of disease—since mortal mind must be the cause of disease—tends to induce disease" (Science and Health, p. 370). For the same reason, a mental diagnosis will help to eradicate disease. Another reason is that every Christian Science treatment should be adapted to its occasion. In the Bible, the words "arm," "hand," and "finger" are used to signify the exercise of power; and it is to be observed that Christ Jesus used the most definite or particular of these expressions when he said (Luke 11:20), "If I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you."
