Articles

In the Bible there are many references to angels, and humanity in general has come to regard the term as representing something at least supernatural, if not indeed imaginary. The recorded events in which angels participated are considered by some with superstitious fear and awe; by many with skepticism, as being merely mythical; and by others as allegories.

Sometimes the argument is advanced that the "first cause" is unknowable, or, if the person be a theologian, that God is unknowable. This is frequently stated with an air of finality, and generally is supported by some quotation of Scripture torn from its natural context.

To the student of Christian Science the incidents related in the Bible are not regarded merely as records of past and gone human personalities, but serve rather to typify various states and stages of mortal thought in process of correction. Some very good persons, such as Jacob, David, and Elijah, are known to have made grave mistakes; but these mistakes, when seen and corrected, served only to advance these spiritual seers into yet higher realms of vision, even as men today "may rise on stepping-stones of their dead selves to higher things.

As mentioned in Scripture the threshing floor is typical of the point where the accumulated result of patience and industry is gathered, and where the good and useful is separated from the bad and useless. It is a metaphor freely used in the Bible and is synonymous with purification, as every Bible student is aware.

In the long ago there was a man of visions,—spiritual visions, different indeed from human conceptions. Patiently he waited by the river Hiddekel, for "the time appointed was long," until, lifting his eyes, he beheld in all its shining glory the spiritual idea of man immersed in goodness all divine.

The statement in Christian Science that error, or evil, is unreal, has called forth perhaps more criticism than any other of its teachings. It is, however, the only consistent position to take if the generally accepted concept of the nature of God as infinite and perfect is granted.

As there is a great difference between the Christian Science practitioner and the regular physician, so there is a great difference between the Christian Science nurse and the one who nurses according to the methods of medical practice. As some physicians, however, have given up these methods and become Christian Science practitioners, so some of the best Christian Science nurses have come from the ranks of hospital-trained nurses.

A young student of Christian Science was once heard to remark that he felt he could make better progress if he were surrounded by more favorable conditions. Pondering along this line, these words from our Hymnal (p.

Jesus taught his disciples one short yet comprehensive prayer which if spiritually understood would liberate a sinful world from its thraldom to sin, sickness, and death; but until the discovery of Christian Science by Mrs. Eddy, this prayer, as well as many others of the Master's sayings, had been interpreted according to material belief, and this has in many instances hidden the true meaning of his teachings.

According to the Scriptures there was a time when "the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.