One is faced with a critical decision when he has to decide whether to rely wholly on Christian Science or on medical aid. There is no in-between position available. Christian Science is metaphysical in its treatment of disease. That is, it does not treat physical symptoms as if they were objective realities; rather, it considers disease to be mental, a subjective state of human consciousness. Material medicine, on the other hand, treats physicality on the assumption that it contains the evil, whether the basis of this evil is physical or mental. A stand can be taken on one side or the other, but not on both.
The decision is individual. Each should follow his conscience rather than yield to the undue influence of others or to pride, prejudice, or mere tradition. Radio, television, popular periodicals, and word of mouth often give advice on the subject, usually urging the claims of medicine. By comparison, the urgings of Christian Science that man's spiritual resources be resorted to seem only slight.
Christian Science recommends its metaphysical treatment over medical treatment for the following reasons among many others:
