RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA
Science Scilli
economy of prayer as presented in the Bible, understood and practised by Christians in all ages.
Christian Science recognizes Mrs. Eddy's (Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures as of equal authority with the Bible. Great attachment for the Bible is declared, but any passage which contradicts any of the postulates of the 10. The system is rejected. Thus, Mrs. Eddy Scriptures, gives no explanation of Gen. ii. 7, " And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Commenting on this verse, Mrs. Eddy asks: " How can the material organization become the basis of man? How can the non-intelligent become the medium of Mind, and error the enunciator of Truth? Is this truth? or is it a lie, concerning man and God? " And she answers: " It must be the latter, for God presently curses the ground " (Science and Health, 103d ed., p. 517). Adam has made a good deal of trouble for theologians of all schools. Mrs. Eddy met the difficulties and in her own way solved them by a display of philological skill. She holds that Adam is merely a name for the " matter " which opposes " mind." In order to prove this she says: " Divide the name Adam into two syllables, and it reads, a dam, or obstruction. This suggests the thought of something fluid, of mortal mind in solution " (p. 233). These two instances of exegesis are samples of the way in which the Bible is treated by this system. Such treatment utterly destroys its majesty and meaning. A comparison of the estimate which Christian Science puts on the Bible and on the text-book Science and Health shows the relative place of each in the system. The following parallel column exhibits these estimates. This column is made from sentences in Science and Health and the Miscellaneous Writings:
Science and Health. (1) Revealed truth, the
perfect word of
God.
(2)Uncontaminated truth.
(3) Truth without mix-
ture of human error.
(4) Divine teaching.
(5) Infallible teaching.
The Bible.
(1) In parts composed
of legends, metaphors, fables, allegories, and myths.
(2) Full of mistakes.
(3) Full of thousands of
errors.
(4) A compilation of
human documents.
(5) Contains statements
which are not true.
This comparison might be drawn out to great length, but these statements are sufficient to show the superior place which Christian Sciense assigns Mrs. Eddy's book.
Christian Science centers thought on self and self as free from all maladies, from sin, suffering, and sorrow. If the reality of sickness and suffering be denied, the channels of sympathy and philanthropy dry up. If the reality of ii. Service, sin and death be denied, that act quenches all missionary ardor. Christian Science builds splendid temples of stone and adorns them with all the genius of architect and
artist. But Christian Science builds no hospitals or orphanages, or schools; for sickness, which needs a hospital; want, which needs an orphanage; and ignorance, which needs a school, have no actual existence. They are only illusions of mortal mind. Genuine Christianity builds churches, but does not lavish all its money on them, for there are hospitals and asylums and kindergartens and colleges to be built and to be built by the money of those who kneel at the cross of Christ and from him learn that the true economy of life is to minister even unto the least of the children of men.
J. F. Carson.
Bibliography: W. H. Holeombe, Letters on Spiritual Subjects in Answer to Inquiring Souls, Philadelphia, 1885; H. M. Tenney, Christian Science: its Truths and Errors, Cleveland, Ohio, 1888; E. P. Terhune, Fallacy of Christian Science, New York, 1890; J. M. Buckley, Christian Science and Superstitions, ib. 1899; R. H. Newton, Christian Science: Truths of spiritual Healing and their Contribution to the Growth of Orthodoxy, ib. 1898; J. H. Bates, Christian Science and its Problems, ib. 1898; W. P. Mc- Corkle, Christian Science, Philadelphia, 1900; C. F. Winbigler, Christian Science and Kindred Superstitions, New York, 1901; M. W. Gifford, Christian Science against itself, Cincinnati, 1902; M. C. Sturge, Truth and Error of Christian Science, New York, 1903, new ed., 1908; C. G. Pease, Expose of Christian Science Methods and Teachings, ib. 1905;
E. A. Kimball, C. P. Smith, S. J. Hanna, Christian Science and Legislation, Boston, 1906; R. D. Kathrens, Side Lights on Mary Baker Eddy Glover-Science Church Trustees Controversy, Kansas City, 1907; L. P. Powell, Christian Science, the Faith and its Founder, New York, 1907;
F. T. Brown, The Truth and Error in so-called " Christian Science," New Haven, 1907; J. M. Gray, The Antidote for Christian Science, New York, 1907; R. C. Harker, Christian Science, Cincinnati, 1908; F. S. Hoffman, The Sphere of Religion, New York, 1908; L. A. Lambert, Christian Science before the Bar of Reason, ib. 1908; G. C. Mars, The Interpretation of Life, in which is Shown the Relation of Modern Culture to Christian Science, ib. 1908 (a defense of Christian Science) ; Sibyl Wilbur, Life of Mary Baker Eddy, Concord, 1908 (circulated . by Christian Scientists); F. Ballard, Eddyism. "Christian Science" miscalled. A Delusion and a Snare, London, 1909; I. M. Haldeman, Christian Science in the Light of Holy Scripture, New York, 1909; S. J. Hanna, Christian Science: the Religion of the Bible, Boston, 1909; The Faith and Works of Christian Science, New York, 1909; F. E. Marston, The Mask of Christian Science, ib. 1909; G. Milmine, The Life of Mary Baker G. Eddy and the History of Christian Science, ib. 1909 (critical and adverse); S. Paget, Faith and Works of Christian Science, ib. 1909 (thorough medical criticism of the system) ; F. Podmore, Mesmerism and Christian Science. A Short History of Mental Healing, London, 1909; C. R. Brown, Faith and Health, New York, 1910 (adverse, by a former Christian Scientist) ; B. O. Flower, Christian Science as a Religious Belief and a Therapeutic Agent, Boston, 1910 (critical; rejects the philosophy of Christian Science but admits numerous cures) ; F. E. Marsten, The Mask of Christian Science: a History of the Rise and Growth of the System together with a Comparison of metaphysical Healing with Matters scientific. New York, 1910; W. W. Walter, Five Years in Christian Science, Chicago, 1911; R. C. Armstrong, Christian Science Exposed, Fort Worth, Texas, 1911.
SCILLI, MARTYRS OF: Twelve Christians, seven men and five women, martyred on July 17, 180, either at Scilli, a city of the proconsular province of North Africa, or at Sila or Silli, two small cities of Numidia. The story goes that on July 17, 180, six Christians who were named Speratus (the spokesman), Nartzallus, Cittinus, Donata, Secunda, and Vestia, were brought before the proconsul Saturninus and repeatedly urged to swear by the genius of
Scilli Scotland