Faith-Healing and Christian Science (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. 1899. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER II 'christian Science' 'While many admit the abstract probability that a falsity has usually a nucleus of reality, few bear this abstract probability in mind when passing judgment on the opinions of others. A belief that is finally proved to be grossly at variance with fact is cast aside with indignation or contempt; and in the heat of antagonism scarcely any one inquires what there was in this belief which commended it to men's minds. Yet there must have been something.'--First Principles, Herbert Spencer, p. 3. And now I propose speaking, of an American faith-healing method or cult which has met with an almost unrivalled popularity in the States, where it was first expounded some thirty-five years ago, and which, introduced only recently into this country, is attracting the interest and raising the curiosity of not a few. This Transatlantic movement, which, in character, is a kind of metaphysical mysticism, is subdivided into numerous branches; but I shall here only discuss that one which is best known in London, the branch, namely, which acknowledges Mary M. Baker Glover Patterson Eddy as its leader, and which sums up the audacity of its claims by the title of' Christian Science, ' which it has, with a strange disregard of fitness, adopted. For some time little or practically no public notice was taken of this novel religious phenomenon in England; and indeed this seemed as well, for not only is the tolerant principle of 'live and let live' generally the wisest and best, but also with most things the attention drawn by adverse criticism proves a good advertisement, and opposition not infrequently incites a more determined adherence. With 'Christian Science, ' however, the let-be principle has not been easy or right to follow, for one of its fundam...