Defending What Matters, Criticizing Error

"Anything Goes" is a wonderful Cole Porter song, and musical, but it is not a suitable Christian Science theme song. "The song of Christian Science is 'Work--work--work--watch and pray.'" (Mary Baker Eddy, '00 2: 7-8) Churches might be filled every Sunday and Wednesday if soothing, easy-listening music were played and lots of munchies were available in the lobby for attendees to nosh on during the service. But would a full church under these conditions mean anything so far as understanding Christian Science is concerned?

The writer of this blog may appear to many, even to most, as a nattering nabob of negativism, or worse. But just as with mathematics, one either gets Christian Science or he doesn't. There is one Way and it is strait uphill all the way. There is no Christian Science Lite, nor a wide and shady path to understanding and demonstration for beginners or the well-meaning but indolent.

An understanding of Christian Science will not without dedicated working, watching, and praying suddenly appear to a micawberish ditherer, nor by some magical, effort-saving deus ex machina no matter how good and well -intentioned we are. Mrs. Eddy tells us that "Seeking is not sufficient. It is striving that enables us to enter." (S&H 10: 14-15)

Mrs. Eddy also says that error left to itself is undenied and nurtured. What is criticized in these entries is not intentionally ad hominem, but against what is wrong, what is perceived as error at work. If the criticisms are unjust, God will take the matter up with the writer. But if one loves God and Christian Science as he was taught to the best of his understanding and as he understands them to be through the Bible and writings of Mary Baker Eddy, he cannot turn a blind eye to what he and many others see as animal magnetism, mortal mind, and error hard at work.

As a final thought, see Science and Health 36: 14-18.