SCIENCE AND HEALTH WITH KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES "... to gyve science & helthe to his puple..." Luke 1:77 (Wyclif)
In the August Journal some excerpts were given from a new book, The Bible and Bibles in America, edited by Ernest S. Frerichs and published by Scholars Press and Fortress Press. The book is the first volume of a scholarly series entitled The Bible in American Literature, sponsored by the Society of Biblical Literature. Robert Peel, as an author of several books on Mrs. Eddy and Christian Science, was asked to contribute a chapter on Mrs. Eddy's book Science and Health, and the previous installment contained excerpts from that chapter dealing with the textbook's early publishing history and mixed public reception. This month we are reprinting further excerpts from the same chapter. These describe the place of the Bible and Science and Health in a Christian Scientist's study and worship. They also touch on the textbook's prophetic insight into the future.
Christian Science is first of all a study, and Science and Health remains its authoritative textbook. Christian Scientists are apt to speak of themselves as "students of Christian Science," and normally they devote time each day to studying the Bible and the textbook which they believe helps them to relate "the inspired Word of the Bible" [Science and Health, p. 497] more practically—more "scientifically" even—to their lives.
