christian science-第5章
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will make the bread pill effective。
Faith in the doctor。 Perhaps that is the entire thing。 It seems to look
like it。 In old times the King cured the king's evil by the touch of the
royal hand。 He frequently made extraordinary cures。 Could his footman
have done it？ Nonot in his own clothes。 Disguised as the King； could
he have done it？ I think we may not doubt it。 I think we may feel sure
that it was not the King's touch that made the cure in any instance； but
the patient's faith in the efficacy of a King's touch。 Genuine and
remarkable cures have been achieved through contact with the relics of a
saint。 Is it not likely that any other bones would have done as well if
the substitution had been concealed from the patient？ When I was a boy a
farmer's wife who lived five miles from our village had great fame as a
faith…doctorthat was what she called herself。 Sufferers came to her
from all around； and she laid her hand upon them and said； 〃Have faith
it is all that is necessary；〃 and they went away well of their ailments。
She was not a religious woman； and pretended to no occult powers。 She
said that the patient's faith in her did the work。 Several times I saw
her make immediate cures of severe toothaches。 My mother was the
patient。 In Austria there is a peasant who drives a great trade in this
sort of industry； and has both the high and the low for patients。 He
gets into prison every now and then for practising without a diploma； but
his business is as brisk as ever when he gets out； for his work is
unquestionably successful and keeps his reputation high。 In Bavaria
there is a man who performed so many great cures that he had to retire
from his profession of stage…carpentering in order to meet the demand of
his constantly increasing body of customers。 He goes on from year to
year doing his miracles； and has become very rich。 He pretends to no
religious helps； no supernatural aids； but thinks there is something in
his make…up which inspires the confidence of his patients； and that it is
this confidence which does the work； and not some mysterious power
issuing from himself。
Within the last quarter of a century； in America； several sects of curers
have appeared under various names and have done notable things in the way
of healing ailments without the use of medicines。 There are the Mind
Cure the Faith Cure； the Prayer Cure； the Mental Science Cure； and the
Christian…Science Cure； and apparently they all do their miracles with
the same old； powerful instrumentthe patient's imagination。 Differing
names； but no difference in the process。 But they do not give that
instrument the credit； each sect claims that its way differs from the
ways of the others。
They all achieve some cures； there is no question about it； and the Faith
Cure and the Prayer Cure probably do no harm when they do no good； since
they do not forbid the patient to help out the cure with medicines if he
wants to； but the others bar medicines； and claim ability to cure every
conceivable human ailment through the application of their mental forces
alone。 There would seem to be an element of danger here。 It has the
look of claiming too much； I think。 Public confidence would probably be
increased if less were claimed。
The Christian Scientist was not able to cure my stomach…ache and my cold；
but the horse…doctor did it。 This convinces me that Christian Science
claims too much。 In my opinion it ought to let diseases alone and
confine itself to surgery。 There it would have everything its own way。
The horse…doctor charged me thirty kreutzers； and I paid him； in fact； I
doubled it and gave him a shilling。 Mrs。 Fuller brought in an itemized
bill for a crate of broken bones mended in two hundred and thirty…four
placesone dollar per fracture。
〃Nothing exists but Mind？〃
〃Nothing；〃 she answered。 〃All else is substanceless； all else is
imaginary。〃
I gave her an imaginary check； and now she is suing me for substantial
dollars。 It looks inconsistent。
CHAPTER V
Let us consider that we are all partially insane。 It will explain us to
each other； it will unriddle many riddles； it will make clear and simple
many things which are involved in haunting and harassing difficulties and
obscurities now。
Those of us who are not in the asylum； and not demonstrably due there；
are nevertheless； no doubt； insane in one or two particulars。 I think we
must admit this； but I think that we are otherwise healthy…minded。 I
think that when we all see one thing alike； it is evidence that； as
regards that one thing； our minds are perfectly sound。 Now there are
really several things which we do all see alike； things which we all
accept； and about which we do not dispute。 For instance； we who are
outside of the asylum all agree that water seeks its level； that the sun
gives light and heat； that fire consumes； that fog is damp； that six
times six are thirty…six； that two from ten leaves eight； that eight and
seven are fifteen。 These are； perhaps； the only things we are agreed
about； but； although they are so few； they are of inestimable value；
because they make an infallible standard of sanity。 Whosoever accepts
them him we know to be substantially sane； sufficiently sane； in the
working essentials； sane。 Whoever disputes a single one of them him we
know to be wholly insane； and qualified for the asylum。
Very well； the man who disputes none of them we concede to be entitled to
go at large。 But that is concession enough。 We cannot go any further
than that； for we know that in all matters of mere opinion that same man
is insanejust as insane as we are； just as insane as Shakespeare was。
We know exactly where to put our finger upon his insanity： it is where
his opinion differs from ours。
That is a simple rule； and easy to remember。 When I； a thoughtful and
unblessed Presbyterian； examine the Koran； I know that beyond any
question every Mohammedan is insane； not in all things； but in religious
matters。 When a thoughtful and unblessed Mohammedan examines the
Westminster Catechism； he knows that beyond any question I am spiritually
insane。 I cannot prove to him that he is insane； because you never can
prove anything to a lunaticfor that is a part of his insanity and the
evidence of it。 He cannot prove to me that I am insane； for my mind has
the same defect that afflicts his。 All Democrats are insane； but not one
of them knows it； none but the Republicans and Mugwumps know it。 All the
Republicans are insane； but only the Democrats and Mugwumps can perceive
it。 The rule is perfect： in all matters of opinion our adversaries are
insane。 When I look around me； I am often troubled to see how many
people are mad。 To mention only a few：
The Atheist； The Theosophists； The Infidel； The Swedenborgians； The
Agnostic； The Shakers； The Baptist； The Millerites； The Methodist； The
Mormons； The Christian Scientist； The Laurence Oliphant Harrisites； The
Catholic； and the 115 Christian sects； the Presbyterian excepted； The
Grand Lama's people； The Monarchists； The Imperialists； The 72 Mohammedan
sects； The Democrats； The Republicans （but not the Mugwumps）； The
Buddhist； The Blavatsky…Buddhist； The Mind…Curists； The Faith…Curists；
The Nationalist； The Mental Scientists； The Confucian； The Spiritualist；
The Allopaths； The 2000 East Indian sects； The Homeopaths； The
Electropaths； The Peculiar People； The
But there's no end to the list； there are millions of them！ And all
insane； each in his own way； insane as to his pet fad or opinion； but
otherwise sane and rational。 This should move us to be charitable
towards one another's lunacies。 I recognize that in his special belief
the Christian Scientist is insane； because he does not believe as I do；
but I hail him as my mate and fellow； because I am as insane as he insane
from his point of view； and his point of view is as authoritative as mine
and worth as much。 That is to say； worth a brass farthing。 Upon a great
religious or political question； the opinion of the dullest head in the
world is worth the same as the opinion of the brightest head in the
worlda brass farthing。 How do we arrive at
