In the early days of the Christian Science movement, Mary Baker Eddy received thousands of letters from Christian Scientists and from the public at large. With so little time for correspondence, she asked church members who wrote to her to send their letters "to the editors of The Christian Science Journal for publication, and thereby give to us all the pleasure of hearing from you" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 155).
In the spirit of her comment, the Editors are providing a regular "letters" column. We invite your contributions on a broad array of subjects. It is clear to us that, just as in Mrs. Eddy's day, Journal readers often have valuable thoughts to express, insights to share, views that deserve consideration by the entire family of readers.
We'd love to have you share your thoughts in this column. Obviously, because of available space, not every letter will be published, and some may need to be edited for length. Also, we know you'll understand that we can't answer each letter personally.
We look forward to hearing from you. Letters should include the writer's full name, address, and telephone number, and be addressed to:
Letters to the Editor
Journal, Sentinel, and Herald Editorial Department, p-602
One Norway Street
Boston, MA, U.S.A. 02115
I am not a Christian Scientist, but it has become a part of my spiritual life-support system. Mary Baker Eddy stated on many occasions that it was her desire to see Christian Science leaven at work in all denominations.
When I was in college I passed a Christian Science Reading Room. It encouraged me to see there was a religion that invited people to come in and read rather than using emotionalized, high-pressure evangelism. I didn't go in that day, but I always knew someday I would.
It was years before I did. We are all slower to consider new truths than we realize. We talk about being open-minded but we're really only "Crack-Minded." Little cracks are open in our belief system where the authority figures and societal institutions of our lives have not quite been able to convince our God-given intelligence of their beliefs.
For example, I was never able to believe that a God defined as "Love" would punish anyone eternally. For any deed that's overkill! And it's a contradiction to the advice of Christ Jesus that we forgive seventy times seven.
So that was a crack in my belief system through which the light of higher Truth could stream. And the healing truths of Mrs. Eddy's seven synonyms for God replaced an old negative image.
I could never believe that man is an original-sin-cursed creature over something that happened in reality or allegory. So the truth of our personhood as perfect, sinless creations of God came streaming through that crack.
Most of the theological structure of Christendom came from other countries. Mrs. Eddy is one of the few American thinkers to contribute new and great thoughts to Christianity. And yet it seems that she only captured the intent of the teachings of Christ Jesus, opening up old concepts to a deeper and richer substance within.
Chattanooga, Tennessee
I am a student of Christian Science who became interested in it while watching a television program on the religion in 1958. I was a new immigrant, in a strange country, living on a farm, with no transportation.
I thank God for the Christian Science healing program that guided me out of darkness into the light of Truth and Love. I would love to see these short programs again, when possible: and I see a great need for the news as Christian Science presents it....
A human face on TV is a lifeline to those living on farms and other lonely workplaces, where one is out of touch with society. God bless you all.
Stroud, Ontario, Canada
A reader asks about reinstating the format of the various language editions of The Herald of Christian Science with the English original facing the other language text. She writes:
On page 92 of E. Mary Ramsay's biography, Christian Science and Its Discoverer, she states: "In this way German [overseas] readers become acquainted with English, and so may learn to read the Christian Science books in the original."
We lived in Germany from 1957 to 1959. I was a member of First Church, Bremerhaven. I remember how much I enjoyed and learned by trying to read the Heralds in German and then checking on my progress by reading the English translation. As a Christian Science Reading Room librarian, I find recommending the Heralds with the English original opposite their native language, an extra incentive for those wishing to purchase and study the Heralds. Change for Change's sake seems to be a motive for the new format. The original purpose to "become acquainted with English, and so ... learn to read the Christian Science books in the original," would appear to carry more weight.
Please return Heralds to original format.
Fort Pierce, Florida
Editor's note: The German Herald was printed entirely in German from its first issue in 1903 until 1918. Then, during the First World War, the Board of Trustees of The Christian Science Publishing Society authorized printing the Herald with facing pages in English in an effort to accommodate the United States government, which was concerned about any materials being sent overseas in German at that time. The purpose of the Herald has never really been to teach English as a second language but to offer the healing message of Christian Science to mankind. Returning to the single-language format of the Herald, as originally established by Mary Baker Eddy, was carefully considered for several years. Many readers had been requesting more material in the magazine, and by not using facing pages in English since January 1991, we have been able to make additional articles and features available to our readers whose native language is French, German, Spanish, or Portuguese. There remains a section in English toward the back of each issue.
