If one watches his thoughts carefully, he will note that much subjective argument goes on in the course of a day. The pros and cons of various questions and problems are silently argued and decisions made. Sometimes unworthy or discordant suggestions try to gain the floor in one's thought, arguing for their legitimacy, and clear, vigorous reasoning, or counterarguments, are needed to silence them.
Mental argument plays an important role in the healing practice of Christian Science. It is a technique that enables the healer to lift thought above the insistent assertions of disease or other inharmonies and through scientific reasoning arrive at a clear realization of God's allness and evil's nothingness. Mrs. Eddy tells us: "The Christian Scientist's argument rests on the Christianly scientific basis of being. The Scripture declares, 'The Lord He is God [good]; there is none else beside Him.' Even so, harmony is universal, and discord is unreal." Science and Health, p. 414 And further on she adds, "Hold these points strongly in view."
Once the study of Christian Science reveals to us the mortally mental nature of all phenomena the value of argument in the practice of this Science can be clearly seen. Since the physical body and its environment are nothing more than mortal thought-pictures, it is plain that they must respond to thought. The arguments of the carnal mind, named in Christian Science animal magnetism, sometimes produce pictures of disease, lack, unhappiness. These false assertions can be countered and destroyed by the uplifting, enlightening effect of spiritually scientific argument. When they are obliterated from thought, they disappear from the body. Mrs. Eddy writes: "Truth is affirmative, and confers harmony. All metaphysical logic is inspired by this simple rule of Truth, which governs all reality. By the truthful arguments you employ, and especially by the spirit of Truth and Love which you entertain, you will heal the sick." p. 418
