Divine Theology ELLA W. HOAG, CSD          Quite frequently the term "theology" is misunderstood and consequently misapplied. Webster in his definition of it states simply and positively that it is "the science of God or of religion; science of the existence and character of God and of His laws; divinity." Because men have had such varied concepts of God, their theology has appeared to take on various forms. All true theology, however, even according to the accepted meaning of the term, must imply only that which belongs to "the science of God;" in other words, to that which presents God and His laws in conformity with God's own Science.          Theology must therefore have been in existence as long as God Himself, since it would be quite impossible to conceive of God as separated from a correct, scientific understanding of Himself. To speak, therefore, of "old theology'' with a sense of opprobrium would imply a sneer at Deity. The truest theology there is must be the oldest theology from the standpoint of limitless existence. As the Psalmist sang: "Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting."          All true theology is therefore divine, since it is always at-one with God and His Science. Mrs. Eddy speaks of this divine theology and of the need of understanding it with deepest reverence, even saying in "Miscellaneous Writings" (pp. 58, 59), "Without its theology there is no mental science, no order that proceeds from God." And a little farther on she adds, "Take away the theology of mental healing and you take away its science;" and, "Having no true sense of the healing theology of Mind, you can neither understand nor demonstrate its Science."          Our Leader thus shows very plainly the utter impossibility of separating divine Science from divine theology. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (pp. 138, 139) she speaks even more positively when she declares in connection with Jesus' commands to "heal the sick" and to "love thy neighbour as thyself": "It was this theology of Jesus which healed the sick and the sinning. It is his theology in this book and the spiritual meaning of this theology, which heals the sick and causes the wicked to 'forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts.' It was our Master's theology which the impious sought to destroy." All this shows very plainly that theology is indelibly associated with Christian Science.          There is no question but that the divine theology of which Mrs. Eddy writes is that which teaches the perfectly scientific explanation of God and His laws, of His existence and character, and of His perfect creation and relation thereto. Since Mrs. Eddy has presented it as inseparable from divine Science, it must present also correct views of all things, Christianity included. Indeed, it would be quite impossible to imagine a theology which is based on a true concept of God as not giving an equally perfect concept of His Christ.          Now all this is of course quite contrary to the theories and doctrines of so-called popular or scholastic theology, which present material beliefs in regard to God, man, the universe, and heaven. These mistaken beliefs have for centuries failed to heal the sick, as Jesus commanded, and are therefore to be judged by his dictum, namely, that their fruits should testify to their correctness or otherwise. Whatever, therefore, promulgates the truth about God and His Christ; whatever stands for the scientific understanding of God's laws; whatever proclaims the Christianity which Jesus lived to practice and establish, and which proves its correctness in the healing of the sick and the sinner, — this must belong to that divine theology which is as ancient as "the Ancient of days;" this must belong to the theology which has always been, is now, and ever will be coexistent with God Himself.          Then as Christian Scientists let us all protect, adhere to, love, and revere that holy theology which is part and parcel of God's own Science, which includes the understanding of Christ's Christianity, and which is absolutely necessary to the scientific healing of the sick and the sinner. Let us guard ourselves against the temptation to separate divine theology from divine Science. Let us always recognize the fact that, as Mrs. Eddy says, "without its theology there is no mental science, no order that proceeds from God." Then we shall be sure that we understand, because we shall be able to demonstrate through healing both sickness and sin, what she also tells us (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 62), that "the theology of Christian Science is Truth."   "Divine Theology" by Ella W. Hoag, CSD Christian Science Sentinel, December 6, 1924

 

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