Whether people take up the study of Christian Science for healing, for comfort, or in their quest for truth, they generally become interested in it for its religious teaching and the spiritual uplift it gives; and they seek to understand it better in order to apply it themselves to daily problems. As they become convinced that it is indeed the Science of Life, they wish to share it with others; and later they have the desire to become members of a Church of Christ, Scientist, and thus aid in furthering its beneficent work. They also find that taking part in church activities expands their thinking and their demonstration of Christian Science.
Then comes the earnest desire for a still higher understanding of this great truth and for a knowledge of the steps to be taken to attain it. The way is clearly set forth by the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, in her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." She says (pp. 461, 462), "Systematic teaching and the student's spiritual growth and experience in practice are requisite for a thorough comprehension of Christian Science." The first requisite, "systematic teaching," is provided for in the Manual of The Mother Church by Mrs. Eddy in a chapter entitled "Teaching Christian Science." Qualifications and duties of teachers of Christian Science are here outlined; and only those fulfilling them are allowed to have their cards in The Christian Science Journal as teachers. So by listening for God's voice one is protected in seeking class instruction from loyal teachers.
Also included in the chapter is this instruction to teachers concerning qualifications of pupils (Art. XXVI, Sect. 2): "Christian Scientists who are teachers shall carefully select for pupils such only as have good past records and promising proclivities toward Christian Science." It is well for the student to bear this in mind and to reject human opinions which make qualifications for class instruction seem so demanding that he may hesitate and postpone indefinitely even consulting a Christian Science teacher.
