I have been a student of Christian Science for 17 years with many benefits to my life, including including family, work relationships, and health. I have enjoyed and benefited from reading Christian Science literature during these years and continue to do so. With all humility, and I only say this so you can comprehend my devotion to Christian Science, I can truly say that although I have on occasion approached the medical profession for diagnosis, during the past 17 years I have not taken medication or medical profession for diagnosis, during the past 17 years I have not taken medication or medical treatment for healing. I have relied entirely on Christian Science, at times on my own [prayer] treatments, and at times with the help of [Christian Science] practitioners. I have had some wonderful demonstrations.
I found the interview of Dr. Hufford in the October 2000 [Journal] very disturbing. I think he should have confined his comments to the history of the historical attitudes of medicine and religion toward spiritual healing, which I found interesting and in agreement with other similar accounts. I found his statements about the outcomes of predictions in the field of science and medicine, and his comments on the accomplishments of present-day medicine, unfair. . . .
As a physician epidemiologist, I am very aware of the great advances made by traditional (referred to by Dr. Hufford as allopathic) medicine. Not only from my own professional experience but also in wonderful changes in life expectancy and quality of life I have seen in friends relatives. . . . I have seen the elimination of poliomyelitis in North America and hopefully total world elimination in the next ten years. I have seen the worldwide elimination of small-pox. These are but a few of the many wonders I have seen in my lifetime. . . .
