Page:The Quimby Manuscripts.djvu/355

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
RELIGIOUS QUESTIONS
351

Then your good life cannot cure diseases? Did Jesus' life cure? “Yes.” Then you must not claim to be a disciple of Jesus, for if you claim to be a good man and we see no proof of your goodness on others, your goodness is of this world and not of Christ. You say He had a “power,” now what do you mean by a power? We call steam a power and electricity a power but no one ever associates wisdom with it. Do you mean that Jesus' power was like the above, or was it what He said and did? “It was in what He said and did.” Well, what did He do? Did He not cure the sick? “Yes.” Well, how did He do it? Was it His power? “Yes, it came from God.” Did you not say that Jesus was God? “Yes.” Then how could God come from one place when you and I believe that God fills all space? “Well, there is a mystery in the Godhead or trinity that man cannot find out or understand.” Was not the Bible written for our understanding? “Yes, but mystery cannot be found out, so we have no right to penetrate the ways of God, for there is enough in the Bible to learn and make us happy without searching into the mysteries of another world.” If the Bible was not for man's belief what was it for? If we are to take it for the Word of God, who is to explain it? “It explains itself.” Do you understand it? “In a measure.” What do I understand by your answer? Can you give me any more light in regard to what Christ is than you have? “No.” Then I am as ignorant as I was when I began. “Give me your opinion of Jesus Christ.” Well, if you will listen I will tell you what I know of Christ and what I believe of the man Jesus. . . .

RELIGION IN DISEASE

The question is often asked why I talk about religion and quote Scripture while I cure the sick. My answer is that sickness being what follows a belief the belief contains the evil which I must correct. As I do this a chemical change takes place. Disease is an error the only remedy for which is the truth. The fear of what will come after death is the beginning of man's troubles, for he tries to get evidence that he will be happy, and the fear that he will never arrive at happiness makes him miserable.

We are taught to believe that if we pray we shall receive an answer to our prayer. A superstitious person believing this is ready to believe that he may be punished, for some one