When one versed in the natural sciences examines Christian Science, he finds a radical distinction. In the physical sciences, rational systems are constructed on observations made with the bodily senses; whereas Christian Science is founded on spiritual sense. The inquirer may never have recognized spiritual sense in his experience, and thus he may question whether a system so based can really be scientific.
Yet spiritual sense is an integral part of existence. By spiritual sense, with significance beyond bodily sensations of pleasure and pain, we distinguish between good and evil. Every effort to meet the standards of truth and integrity is based ultimately on acknowledgment of a spiritual criterion of good which transcends mere social morality. The faith of the scientist that natural phenomena are governed by orderly, exact laws which can be ascertained by research is founded on the spiritual perception, often unrecognized, that the universe is controlled by a principle. This faith implies a belief that reality is the outcome of a principle, and it is natural to classify ultimate Principle as divine, capitalizing the word to identify it with Deity.
It is not surprising that spiritual sense is not yet more widely recognized. For many centuries the beauty of towering mountain ranges went unnoticed in the western world, and men considered them chiefly as obstacles to commerce. It took the perceptiveness of poets and artists to reveal their loveliness to human thinking. Even now the beauty of desert regions is just becoming widely recognized by mankind. If the human consciousness has been so widely blind to this element of its material environment, a characteristic inherent not in the optical communication of landscape to consciousness but in the quality of thinking which composes consciousness, it must be admitted that increased awareness may reveal a whole universe of concepts hitherto unsuspected.
To cite another instance, over the ages millions watched water boil without perceiving the implication that it could be used to create power by running an engine. All that the senses could perceive was there, but its significance escaped notice. The trained scientist or artist observes vastly more in objects of study than the beginner, though the senses receive identical impressions; and he knows there is still more to be comprehended. When extended beyond material objectivity, this awareness reaches spiritual sense.
The prophet Isaiah spoke of human blindness to the spiritual nature of reality when he represented Deity as saying, "I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me." lsa. 45:5 Throughout the Scriptures it is communications of spiritual sense which bring enlightenment, comfort, and healing to mankind in every age. The message of the Bible is still but faintly comprehended, yet it offers the most important records ever known of spiritually scientific observations and their effect on human affairs.
The profession of atheism by some physical scientists is an unwitting confession of inconsistency. It has been said that the striking progress of the western world in the sciences is based on the Christian faith that a universe governed by one unchanging God operates in accordance with invariable laws which can be discerned and utilized.
Under more primitive concepts, in which Deity rules according to caprices of anger or revenge unless cajoled into more auspicious moods by rites and sacrifices, or where a plurality of gods or spirits contend for control of events with ever-shifting success, the seeker is deprived of hope of finding unchanging regularity or rationality in the universe. Scientific investigation appears to him to be hopeless. The higher view of God has thus been a controlling factor in the evolution of the sciences.
However, even atheism may to some people seem preferable to certain popular but irrational concepts of Deity, which fall far short of the inspired revelation of Scripture. It is misapprehension of God which underlies much atheism. Rejection of unreasonable notions of God is inevitable, for they do not accord with Scripture or with the absolute evidence of spiritual sense.
Just as the natural scientist's vision is trained to perceive things which are unnoticed by others, and as the artist develops sensitivity to tone, form, and insight, so spiritual sense needs to be cultivated and developed. That which it recognizes is only what is always there, but needs to be discerned and grasped in all its implications. As this is done, the effulgence of spiritual reality dawns in ever-brightening radiance on the amazed beholder. Christian Science presents means and method for this great achievement.
"The Science of God and man is no more supernatural than is the science of numbers, though departing from the realm of the physical, as the Science of God, Spirit, must, some may deny its right to the name of Science," Science and Health, p. Ill writes Mrs. Eddy. And on another page she explains spiritual sense accurately and precisely, "Spiritual sense is a conscious, constant capacity to understand God." p. 209 Again, she states, "Spiritual sense is the discernment of spiritual good." p. 505
The scientist is accustomed to evaluating a conceptual system by the faithfulness with which conclusions drawn from it correspond to laboratory or field observations. This is an essential part of the scientific method. By this criterion, Christian Science is the most exact of all sciences. As in Bible times the conclusion that health is real, and its obverse that sickness is unreal, are proved by the healing of diseases of all kinds, even those generally considered incurable. The deduction that sin can exert no control over man is confirmed by the fact that as the dishonest, sensual, or ill-willed person is touched by Christian Science, sin melts away.
In another section of this periodical will be found authenticated testimonies relating healing experiences. Testimonies appear regularly in The Christian Science Journal, Christian Science Sentinel, and The Herald of Christian Science. At Wednesday testimony meetings in Christian Science churches throughout the world testimonies are also given orally by those who have been healed.
Some years ago, when a professor of electrical engineering in a leading university first heard of Christian Science, it seemed to him necessary to determine whether or not the claims regarding its healing were true. He made a very careful investigation, following up cases of healings of abdominal tumor, cancer, consumption in the last stages, shortened limb, dislocated hip, and other physical difficulties. He found in each case that the physician's diagnosis had been correct, that at the time of his investigation the patient was well, and that no healing remedy had been used except Christian Science.
He told me that the scientific discovery of the ages of the Christian era had appeared. He said he had no choice but to begin his own study of Christian Science. Within a short time the press of patients seeking treatment and receiving healings as a result of his understanding and practice compelled him to give up his profession of engineering to become a Christian Science practitioner, a calling which he followed successfully and gratefully. This experience is typical of that of a number of scientists and engineers, physicians and clergymen.
Sometimes the value of testimonies is questioned because of the absence of "controls" or statistical studies. To those who have been suffering, who could only expect death but now enjoy normal health and activity, such objections seem unimpressive. It will be recalled that the first efforts of space scientists to place satellites in orbit around the earth were frequently failures; the statistics were against them, but one success outweighed many defeats.
The healing of one case which had been thought incurable, through spiritual treatment alone, points to the ultimate healing of all disease. Christian Scientists have not reached this height of understanding, but look to the example of Christ Jesus, who did not lose a case. Yet the present record is encouraging. It is quite sufficient to show that Christian healing is not a legend or a special dispensation from an inscrutable God, but the effect of spiritual Science, repeatable today.
The Master referred to his healing work as conclusive evidence of divine authority. His reply to the inquiry of John the Baptist was a reference to his works, as recounted in the eleventh chapter of Matthew. At another time he said, "Though ye believe not me, believe the works." John 10:38 To the natural scientist, to every citizen, Christian Science repeats the Master's cry today. It is a plea to examine the evidence, to discover not only that Science is built on a spiritual basis but also that there is no other foundation for absolute Science.
