Christian Science Before the Bar of Reason (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908. Excerpt: ... delusion, a phantom lie told by the mortal mind to itself. (2) They teach that the testimony of the five senses, which bear witness to the reality of our material bodies and the material universe about us, is not good testimony, for it has to be constantly corrected. (3) They at the same time claim--in proof of their doctrines--that they have effected many cures. Now these three positions make it necessary for the Christian Scientists to answer the following questions: How can their claim to have healed diseases be proved? How can they get their evidence present to our consciousness, or before the court of our mind, except through the senses? And if we cannot rely on the testimony of our senses how can we know that the cures they claim to have effected, are real cures and not delusions? In discrediting the senses do they not discredit the very witnesses they must rely on to prove their claims? What is a claim worth that rests on confessedly false witnesses? A short dialogue will illustrate the situation. Christian Scientist: --We have cured many diseases. Christian: --Give us a case in proof. Christian Scientist: --Well, there is the case of John Doe, who had a cancer on his cheek. You see, it is now entirely healed. Nothing but a scar remains. Christian: --It would seem so, and I would be inclined to believe it, were it not that you have told me that my senses are not to be trusted. My senses are the only means by which I can know that the cancer has been healed. Now, as you say they deceive me, I cannot say on their testimony, that I know anything about the cure which you speak of. Therefore, until you admit that my senses are credible witnesses, I cannot admit any of your claimed cures. Christian Scientist: --But I can bring many other cases. Christian: -