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Christian Science is a religious teaching regarding the efficacy of spiritual healing according to the interpretation of the Bible by Mary Baker Eddy, in her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (first published in 1875). Efficacy is the capacity to produce a desired size of an effect under Ideal or Optimal conditions Mary Baker Eddy (born Mary Morse Baker July 16, 1821 &ndash December 3, 1910) was the founder of the Christian Science Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures written by Mary Baker Eddy was inspired by studies of the Bible she undertook in 1867 following a healing Students of Christian Science are usually, though not always or necessarily, members of the Church of Christ, Scientist. The Church of Christ Scientist was founded in 1879 in Boston Massachusetts, USA, by Mary Baker Eddy, author of the book Science and Health with

Christian Science should not be confused with theological, material, or physical science. Science (from the Latin scientia, meaning " Knowledge " or "knowing" is the effort to discover, and increase human understanding Christian Science has no connection with Scientology, and is distinct from Christian fundamentalism. Scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices initially created by American Science fiction author L Christian Science is not a New Thought teaching and should not be confused with Religious Science. The New Thought Movement or New Thought is a New religious movement developed in the United States during the late 19th century which emphasizes metaphysical Religious Science, also known as Science of Mind, was founded in 1927 by Ernest Holmes (1887-1960 and is a spiritual/philosophical/metaphysical religious movement

Contents

Overview

Christian Science was founded by Mary Baker Eddy in the 19th century. Mary Baker Eddy (born Mary Morse Baker July 16, 1821 &ndash December 3, 1910) was the founder of the Christian Science

At the core of Christian Science is the teaching that God and God's creation are entirely good and spiritual, and that God has made all things in his likeness. Creation according to Genesis refers to the Hebrew narrative of the creation of the heavens and the earth as told in chapters 1 and 2 of Genesis Spirituality, in a narrow sense concerns itself with matters of the Spirit, a concept closely tied to religious belief and Faith, a transcendent reality Christian Scientists hold that the reality of being and of all that God makes is spiritual, not material. Materials are physical Substances used as inputs to production or Manufacturing. They see this spiritual reality as the only reality and all else as illusion or "error. Reality, in everyday usage means "the state of things as they actually exist" An illusion is a distortion of the senses revealing how the Brain normally organizes and interprets sensory stimulation " Christian Science acknowledges that we all seem to be experiencing a material existence, but holds that this experience ultimately yields to a true spiritual understanding of God and creation. They believe that this is how healing through prayer is possible. [1]

Prayer, from the Christian Science perspective, does not ask God to intervene, but is rather a process of learning more of God's spiritual reality - "awakening mortal thought," by degrees, to spiritual truth. The meaning of the word truth extends from Honesty, Good faith, and Sincerity in general to agreement with Fact or Reality Christian Scientists show the effect of this spiritualization of thought in healing, -- physical, emotional, and otherwise. An emotion is a mental and physiological state associated with a wide variety of feelings thoughts and behaviours Health care is not attempted through drugs, surgery, or other physical manipulation, but through "Christian Science treatment," a specific form of prayer intended to spiritualize thought. Health care is the prevention treatment and management of illness and the preservation of mental health through the services offered by the medical, Nursing A drug, broadly speaking is any chemical substance that when absorbed into the body Surgery (from the χειρουργική cheirourgikē, via chirurgiae meaning "hand work" is a medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental [2].

While there is no formal compulsion on Christian Scientists either to use Christian Science healing or to eschew medical means[3] Christian Scientists avoid using the two systems simultaneously in the belief that they tend to counteract or contradict each other. Material medicine and Christian Science treatment proceed from diametrically opposite assumptions. Medicine asserts that something is physically broken and needs to be fixed, while Christian Science asserts that the spiritual reality is harmonious and perfect, and that any false belief to the contrary needs to be corrected.

Today it is estimated that there are about 400,000 students of Christian Science in over 60 countries worldwide. There are approximately 1,850 to 2,000 branch congregations in the Christian Science church. [4]

The Christian Science Journal and the Christian Science Sentinel document Christian Science healing. The Christian Science Journal is an official monthly publication of the Church of Christ Scientist through the Christian Science Publishing Society, founded The Christian Science Sentinel "What I say unto you I say unto all watch These are sometimes supported by the observations of medical practitioners involved prior to the application of Christian Science healing, and are always verified by three other parties.

Mary Baker Eddy began believing in this method of healing when she recovered from an injury in 1866 after rereading a passage of one of Jesus' healings. Mary Baker Eddy (born Mary Morse Baker July 16, 1821 &ndash December 3, 1910) was the founder of the Christian Science Year 1866 ( MDCCCLXVI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common She believed that the method of healing must have been that used by Jesus Christ to heal the cases documented in the New Testament. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) Christ is the English term for the Greek ( Khristós) meaning "the anointed " Both her study of the Bible over many years and the application of what she learned to varied cases of illness in the late 19th century compelled her to document her findings and teach her discovery to those who were interested. The resulting textbook, first copyrighted in 1875 and the primary source for learning Christian Science, is titled Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures written by Mary Baker Eddy was inspired by studies of the Bible she undertook in 1867 following a healing

Mary Baker Eddy defined Christian Science in these terms: ". . . the law of God, the law of good, interpreting and demonstrating the divine Principle and rule of universal harmony. "[5] She saw it as ". . . the natural law of harmony which overcomes discord. "[6]

Healing

The basis of Christian Science healing is the view that "man" (the male/female spiritual being who appears as an individual human being) is the reflection or expression of wholly good and perfect God, and therefore is perfect. God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. Christian Scientists believe that God loves every individual, because God is the Creator of all.

Christian Scientists also believe that sickness is the result of fear, ignorance, or sin, and that when the erroneous belief is corrected, the sickness will disappear. Fear is an Emotional response to Threats and Danger. It is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific Stimulus, such as Sin is a term used mainly in a religious context to describe an act that violates a moral Rule, or the state of having committed such a violation They state that the way to eliminate the false beliefs is to replace them with true understanding of God's goodness. They consider that suffering can occur only when one believes in the supposed reality of a problem; if one changes one's understanding, the belief is revealed as false, and the acknowledgement that the sickness has no power since God is the only power, eliminates the sickness.

Christian Scientists regard the material world as a kind of consensual illusion which is due to a misperception of the true spiritual world. Such a misperception can, they believe, be changed by reorientation of thought, or prayer in Christian Science terms. Prayer is the act of attempting to communicate with a Deity or spirit Thus the illusion can be dispelled, revealing the present spiritual reality. The result is healing.

Prayer

Christian Science teaches that prayer is a spiritualization of thought or an understanding of God and the nature of the underlying spiritual creation. The world as it appears to the senses is regarded as a distorted version of the world of spiritual ideas: the latter is the only true reality. Prayer can heal the distortion, bringing spiritual reality (the "Kingdom of Heaven" in Biblical terms) into clearer focus in the human scene--not changing the spiritual creation but giving a clearer view of it. The result is healing. According to Christian Science there are not two creations, a spiritual and a material one, but only a spiritual creation which is incorrectly perceived as material.

Christian Scientists believe that prayer works through Love, and that this is the way Christ Jesus healed. Love is any of a number of Emotions and experiences related to a sense of strong Affection. Christ is the English term for the Greek ( Khristós) meaning "the anointed " Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) Their aim is "to reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing" (Manual of The Mother Church p. 17) which, they believe, was lost after the early centuries of Christianity. They cite such Bible texts as Mark 16:17-18; Matthew 10:8 in support of their contention that Christian faith demands demonstration in healing. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin This is a faith in the omnipotence of God, which according to the Christian Science interpretation of the Bible, logically rules out any other power: Luke 17:5-6. The Christian Science view is that Jesus taught that we should claim good as being present, right here and now, and that this will result in healing: (Matthew 21:22; Matthew 7:7-11). Christian Scientists point to Jesus' teaching that his followers would do "greater works" than he did (John 14:12).

An important point in Christian Science is that effectual prayer and the moral regeneration of one's life go hand-in-hand: that "signs and wonders are wrought in the metaphysical healing of physical disease; but these signs are only to demonstrate its divine origin,to attest the reality of the higher mission of the Christ-power to take away the sins of the world. " (S&H 150:13). Christian Science teaches that disease is mental, a mortal fear, a mistaken belief or conviction of the necessity and power of ill-health -- an ignorance of God's power and goodness. The chapter on "Prayer" in the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, gives a full account of healing through prayer, while the testimonies at the end of the book are written by people who believe they have been healed through spiritual understanding gained from reading the book. Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures written by Mary Baker Eddy was inspired by studies of the Bible she undertook in 1867 following a healing Mary Baker Eddy (born Mary Morse Baker July 16, 1821 &ndash December 3, 1910) was the founder of the Christian Science Christian Scientists claim no monopoly on the application of God's healing power through prayer, and welcome it wherever it occurs.

Philosophy

Christian Science might be considered as a form of theistic monistic idealism: there is but one substance which is God and in Whom we are all embraced in love. In Western civilization, Idealism is the philosophy which maintains that the Ultimate nature of reality is ideal or based upon ideas values essences The so-called Substance theory, or substance attribute theory, is an ontological theory about objecthood, positing that a substance is distinct from its The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy cites Christian Science as an extreme form of philosophical idealism.

Christian Science a believes in the unreality of matter, but it rejects matter not just as a superfluous term or concept; for, according to Christian Science, what we call the material world is a distortion of the underlying spiritual reality, a distortion which can be dispelled through prayer. Matter is commonly defined as being anything that has mass and that takes up space. Prayer is the act of attempting to communicate with a Deity or spirit Christian Science, like Buddhism, believes in the illusory nature of the world of the senses, but unlike Buddhism it does not believe that aging and death are inevitable - according to Christian Science they can be overcome with the defeat of sin or "mortal mind": (John 8:51). Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Sin is a term used mainly in a religious context to describe an act that violates a moral Rule, or the state of having committed such a violation Consequently immortality (or ascension) is possible, and indeed in the longer term it is inevitable. Immortality (or eternal life) is the concept of living in physical or spiritual form for an Infinite length of Time. The reality of each one of us is believed to be a spiritual idea only and not born of the flesh. Therefore, birth and death are illusions, because the material body is considered an illusion. Christian Science believes that Christ overcame death and ascended because he understood spiritual reality.

Christian Science teaches that the spiritualization of consciousness can (and should) have a practical effect in physical , as well as in moral regeneration. Christian Science was articulated by Mary Baker Eddy who rejected the "coldness" of traditional philosophy and emphasized the importance of spiritual love as well as abstract thought, and the integration of thought and feeling. Mary Baker Eddy (born Mary Morse Baker July 16, 1821 &ndash December 3, 1910) was the founder of the Christian Science Love is any of a number of Emotions and experiences related to a sense of strong Affection. She claimed that it is not enough to think true thoughts: our consciousness must be imbued with the Love which is God, and furthermore that Love must be lived as well as felt. She referred to this futility of a mere intellectualism, in Science & Health 366:30-9, stating: "If we would open their prison doors for the sick, we must first learn to bind up the broken-hearted. If we would heal by the Spirit, we must not hide the talent of spiritual healing under the napkin of its form, nor bury the morale of Christian Science in the grave-clothes of its letter. The tender word and Christian encouragement of an invalid, pitiful patience with his fears and the removal of them, are better than hecatombs of gushing theories, stereotyped borrowed speeches, and the doling of arguments, which are but so many parodies on legitimate Christian Science, aflame with divine Love. "

In light of the above, the question might be asked as to what one "loves" in a spiritual or Christian (agape) sense about those closest to us. Agapē (ˈægəpiː ( Gk αγάπη) is one of several Greek words translated into English as love. It is presumably nothing physical or material, as those material/physical attributes would refer to materially human personality or psychology, as opposed to God's creation. Loving, in a Christian Science sense is "seeing," witnessing to or upholding, accepting as valid only the spiritual individuality or identity of each individual as God's likeness or expression or idea. This spiritual identity consists of this individual's own particular reflection of the qualities, attributes or ideas of their Maker/Creator/God, such as love, innocence, intelligence, and so forth. In Christian Science terms these are the 'real' qualities that constitute our true spiritual being, eternally known to God and maintained by God regardless of what the finite material senses testify to. These qualities cannot be perceived materially but only through spiritual sense, which Mary Baker Eddy defines as "a conscious, constant capacity to understand God". (S&H 209:31-32) This is an understanding of what God is and what our relationship to God is.

Evil

The Christian Science position on the nature of evil might be described as follows:

"Evil is a negation, because it is the absence of truth. It is nothing, because it is the absence of something. It is unreal, because it presupposes the absence of God, the omnipotent and omnipresent. Every mortal must learn that there is neither power nor reality in evil. " (Science and Health 186:12-15)

This statement should not be taken as meaning that Christian Scientists ignore the belief of evil, and its effects, but they do not see evil as either an aspect of God, or as a real power separate from God. Evil is not really "real" because it is not part of God's being or His creation. But it may appear to be real as a mistaken concept of God and man. Christian Scientists believe God and His creation to be wholly and only good.

To answer the question whether God punishes evil-doers, Christian Science teaches that any thought or action contrary to our God-given goodness results in some kind of suffering, just as the misunderstanding of a mathematical principle results in incorrect answers. The principles of mathematics are not causing the mistakes; rather, the mistakes are the result of a misconception of the principle. From God's perspective evil does not exist because He has created all and it is good.

Science

Christian Scientists are not Creationists or biblical literalists - they regard the Bible as often having symbolic rather than literal meaning. However, Mrs. Eddy believed that the Theory of Evolution rationalized man as a mortal rather than spirital creation and had this to say about it (S&H, p. eVolution is the third Album by eLDee, it was due to be released in 2008 172): "Theorizing about man's development from mushrooms to monkeys and from monkeys into men amounts to nothing in the right direction and very much in the wrong. " The Christian Science Church does not involve itself in Evolution being taught or not being taught in schools, nor do they demand that alternative accounts be taught. They regard participating in conflicts over school politics as amounting only to involvement in the illusory and mortal. For similar reasons, Christian Science does not object to contemporary geology, cosmology, or biology. Geology (from Greek γη gê, "earth" and λόγος Logos, "speech" lit Physical cosmology, as a branch of Astronomy, is the study of the large-scale structure of the Universe and is concerned with fundamental questions about its Foundations of modern biology There are five unifying principles Christian Science periodicals occasionally cite developments in cosmology and physics as indicating how contemporary science is coming to an understanding of the illusory nature of time and materiality (e. g. Gerber, 2002, p. 3) as examples of mortal mind's search for its real nature.

The term "Christian Science" predates modern discussions regarding scientific method. In Christian Science, there is believed to be a Christianly scientific law that changing the mental cause manifests in a healing effect.

According to the widely, though not universally, accepted ideas of Karl Popper, a scientific theory must be falsifiable. Sir Karl Raimund Popper ( July 28 1902  &ndash September 17 1994) was an Austrian and British Philosopher and a professor Falsifiability (or "refutability" is the logical possibility that an assertion can be shown false by an observation or a physical experiment Based on this definition, the scientificity of Christian Science healing, even if a change in thought results in a change in human experience (like physical healing), may be called in question: there is no obvious means of definitively correlating the cause with the observed effect. Consequently the claim of Christian Science to scientificity is questionable from a Popperian perspective. However, the argument used by Mary Baker Eddy was that if only one case is provable, then rather than it being a fluke, there is a provable scientific reason. Many cases have been attested to by medical doctors and so by the one case definition, healing by correction of thought is feasible. This is a list of minor characters from the Science fiction television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine.

Theology

In terms of Christian theology, Christian Science bears some similarity to the teachings of Origen and Meister Eckhart. Origen ( Greek: Ōrigénēs, or Origen Adamantius, ca 185–ca Meister Eckhart OP (c 1260–c 1328 is the most common formula used to refer to Eckhart von Hochheim, a German theologian However, it rejects the attribute of mysticism to its teachings, and should not be confused with pantheism. Mysticism (from the Greek grc μυστικός mystikos, an initiate of a Mystery religion) is the pursuit of communion with identity Pantheism ( Greek: πάν ( 'pan') = all and θεός ( 'theos') = God it literally means " God is All

Christian Science avoids the theological problem of evil by its teaching of the unreality or nothingness of evil. In the Philosophy of religion and Theology, the problem of evil is the problem of reconciling the existence of Evil or Suffering in the world However, it does not address the "problem" of where the illusion of evil came from – beyond the position that, since it is nothing, it came from nowhere. (Asking the question, for Christian Scientists, is like a mathematician spending his/her time trying to work out where the illusion that 2+2=5 came from – a waste of time that gets one nowhere and indeed postpones the solution of the problem. ) Christian Scientists believe that if one changes a belief in evil to an "understanding" of the universality of good, one's experience will adjust accordingly, and that eventually the question "where does evil come from?" will disappear with the negative phenomena that occasioned it.

Christian Science differs from conventional theology since it regards God as both Father and Mother. God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. This does not refer to any anthropomorphic, quasi-physical characteristics, but simply to the teaching that God is characterized by qualities traditionally considered feminine (gentleness, compassion, nurturing and so on) as well as by those traditionally considered masculine (strength, constancy, protection etc. Anthropomorphism is the attribution of uniquely Human characteristics to non-human creatures and beings natural and supernatural phenomena material states and objects ) According to Christian Science, every person, as God's image or reflection, embodies those qualities as well in their essential being.

Christian Science distinguishes between "Jesus" the man, and "the Christ" or divine manifestation. In considering the question of the relationship between divinity and humanity in reference to Christ Jesus, it is important to consider the Christian Science definition of God as "The great I AM. "

While some Christian Science teachings are unorthodox from the point of view of conventional theology (as in the rejection of substitutionary atonement and of Hell as a place of eternal punishment), others are orthodox (acceptance of the Virgin Birth, the Resurrection of Jesus). Substitutionary atonement is a Doctrine in Christian theology which states that Jesus of Nazareth died &ndash intentionally and willingly &ndash Hell, according to many Religious beliefs, is a location in the Afterlife, which may be described as a place of suffering The virgin birth of Jesus is a religious Tenet of Christianity and Islam which holds that Mary miraculously conceived Jesus while This article concerns itself with Jesus Christ Christian, Islamic and other religious interpretations of resurrection in general

While Christian Scientists revere Mary Baker Eddy as the discoverer and founder of Christian Science, they do not regard her as having added anything to essential Christianity but simply as having elaborated its essence and consequences. Mary Baker Eddy (born Mary Morse Baker July 16, 1821 &ndash December 3, 1910) was the founder of the Christian Science Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings (A comparison might be made to the status of Thomas Aquinas for Catholics, Martin Luther for Lutherans, or John Calvin for Calvinists. Martin Luther (November 10 1483 February 18 1546 was a German Monk, theologian, university professor Father of Protestantism, and church reformer John Calvin (or Jean Calvin) (10 July 1509 – 27 May 1564 was a French Protestant theologian during the Protestant Reformation and )

Another way to illustrate the foundations of the theology of Christian Science is to consider the problems involved in the philosophy of dualism. Many belief systems posit a "god versus something else" or "spirit versus matter". Mary Baker Eddy in a sense followed the reductionism of her time, but instead of reducing all things to the material, she reduced all things to the spiritual.

Christ and the Trinity

Webster's online dictionary [m-w. com] defines the term Christ in Christian Science as "The ideal truth that comes as a divine manifestation of God to destroy incarnate error. Christ is the English term for the Greek ( Khristós) meaning "the anointed " " This definition mirrors Mary Baker Eddy's own definition in Science and Health as "The divine manifestation of God, which comes to the flesh to destroy incarnate error. Mary Baker Eddy (born Mary Morse Baker July 16, 1821 &ndash December 3, 1910) was the founder of the Christian Science " Both definitions establish the Christ as completely divine, spiritual and not material. Christ is the English term for the Greek ( Khristós) meaning "the anointed " Jesus, the son of God therefore embodied the Christ to such a degree that he, and he alone will carry the title Christ, but as a corporeal being he was not the totality of the Christ. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. Christ is the English term for the Greek ( Khristós) meaning "the anointed " Christ is the English term for the Greek ( Khristós) meaning "the anointed "

Mary Baker Eddy writes "Throughout all generations both before and after the Christian era, the Christ, as the spiritual idea – the reflection of God – has come with some measure of power and grace to all prepared to receive Christ, Truth" and even today, the Christ, according to Christian Science belief, continues to come to mankind, giving us a greater understanding of our wholly spiritual identity through healing and the destruction of sin. Christ is the English term for the Greek ( Khristós) meaning "the anointed "

Although many uphold the Trinity as defined by the Nicene Creed, the Trinity in Christian Science is found in the unity of God, the Christ, and divine Science, or: "God the Father-Mother; Christ the spiritual idea of sonship; divine Science or the Holy Comforter. The Nicene Creed (ˈnaɪsiːn is an ecumenical Christian statement of faith accepted in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Assyrian Church of "

Medicine

Many Christian Scientists use their healing system as their first choice for treatment over drugs and surgery. They believe in following the example of Jesus, bringing the real or ideal man more clearly into thought. Christian Scientists believe that Jesus was "the Wayshower", a proof by example of the divine method of healing sin, sickness and death. According to the Christian Science belief, there are no limits to the type of medical conditions that can be healed through prayer.

The Christian Science Church does not forbid the use of medicine by its members, nor does the Church exert informal pressure on them to eschew it. Though Christian Scientists respect the work of medical practitioners, most of them prefer to use prayer and to rely on God. Christian Scientists who choose to rely on medical treatment for a specific problem normally give up Christian Science treatment for the period of treatment. This is because one treatment approaches healing from a material and the other from a spiritual perspective. Because the method of prayer often includes denying the reality of matter and affirming the perfection of the person, while medicine, is used to fix matter and a person with a problem, these two means are seen as incompatible. Christian Scientists are practical when it comes to using material aids such as vision correction, splints for broken bones and dental services and will use what is necessary at the time. However, numerous healings of near- and far-sightedness, dental problems and broken bones have been claimed in the periodicals published by the Church, some of which have been confirmed by medical practitioners who previously deemed them as medically unhealable. [7]

Mary Baker Eddy's views on this subject are as follows: "If Christian Scientists ever fail to receive aid from other Scientists--their brethren upon whom they may call,--God will still guide them into the right use of temporary and eternal means. "[8]

Dissension

Throughout the history of Christian Science there have been a small number of dissenting people, unacknowledged by the Boston organization. Dissent is a sentiment or philosophy of non-agreement or Opposition to an Idea (eg Such dissenters often point to certain "estoppel" clauses of the last Church Manual issued by Mary Baker Eddy before her death which, had they been interpreted literally, would have led to a radical decentralization of the Christian Science Church. The issue has involved the Church in repeated litigation brought by dissenters, most prominently between 1919-22, when a group of Trustees of the Christian Science Publishing Society filed a suit against the Christian Science Board of Directors. In law a lawsuit is a civil action brought before a Court in which the party commencing the action the Plaintiff, seeks a legal or equitable remedy [9]

Criticism of Christian Science

Christian Science has been criticized by skeptics from the very beginning. Mark Twain devoted an entire book to the topic, in which he humorously attacked not only the belief itself, but also its practitioners. Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30 1835 – April 21 1910 better known by the Pen name Mark Twain, was an American Humorist, satirist However, later he seemed to reverse his stance as Paine wrote:[10]

I was at this period interested a good deal in mental healing, and had been treated for neurasthenia with gratifying results. Albert Bigelow Paine ( 10 July 1861 &ndash 9 April 1937) was an American Author and Biographer best known for Like most of the world, I had assumed, from his published articles, that he condemned Christian Science and its related practices out of hand. When I confessed, rather reluctantly, one day, the benefit I had received, he surprised me by answering:
"Of course you have been benefited. Christian Science is humanity's boon. Mother Eddy deserves a place in the Trinity as much as any member of it. She has organized and made available a healing principle that for two thousand years has never been employed, except as the merest kind of guesswork. She is the benefactor of the age. "
It seemed strange, at the time, to hear him speak in this way concerning a practice of which he was generally regarded as the chief public antagonist. It was another angle of his many-sided character.

His daughter, Clara Clemens, became a Christian Scientist (although there is some question as to her seriousness or commitment), and authored a book on the subject: Awake to a Perfect Day, published by Citadel Press, NYC, 1956. Clara Langhorne Clemens Samossoud, formerly Clara Langhorne Clemens Gabrilowitsch ( June 8, 1874 &ndash November 19, 1962 [11]

Heavy metal band Metallica has a number of songs harshly critical of Christian Science, most famously "The God That Failed"; singer James Hetfield's parents have both died of cancer, refusing to seek therapy due to their religious beliefs. Metallica is an American heavy metal band that formed in 1981 in. "The God That Failed" is the tenth track from Metallica's 1991 self-titled album. James Alan Hetfield (born August 3, 1963, in Downey California) is the main Songwriter, co-founder vocalist and Rhythm guitarist

Medical controversies

Christian Science is considered to be a religion, rather than a medical science, by medical practitioners. Critics point to cases of people who died following their choice of Christian Science care rather than medical treatment. Defenders counter that there is no similar burden placed on medical science to justify the hundreds of thousands who die each year under medical care and the many given up as incurable by medical practitioners, some of whom recover after seeking Christian Science treatment. [7]

Christian Scientists have been controversial for their failure to provide conventional health care for children (Asser and Swan, 1998). In the United States, the constitutional guarantee of protection of religious practice from intrusion by government has been used by Christian Scientists and other religious groups to seek exemption from legislative or regulatory requirements regarding child abuse and neglect, including medical neglect in more than three quarters of the states. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Child abuse is the physical, psychological or sexual maltreatment of children There are now statutes in 44 states which contain a provision stating that a child is not to be deemed abused or neglected merely because he or she is receiving treatment by spiritual means, through prayer according to the tenets of a recognized religion. Although these exemptions take different forms and interpretations in different state jurisdictions, the overall effect has been to limit the ability of the state to prosecute parents for suspected or alleged abuse or medical neglect of children when such occurrences may be the result of religious practice.

Two important sets of interests are in apparent opposition - those of children in the perceived benefits of medical care and those of parents in making a decision about their children's well-being. Some parents believe that the constitutionally protected freedom of religion allows them to choose the method of healing (spiritual or medical) they feel will best benefit their children. However, this interpretation of the US constitution is in contradiction to important court rulings to the effect that parents may not martyr their children based on parental beliefs and that children cannot be denied essential health care. [12]

The Journal of the American Medical Association (22 September 1989) reported on a study of more than 5,500 "Christian Scientists" as compared to a "lay group" of almost 30,000. [13] The death rate among "Christian Scientists" from cancer was double the national average, and 6 percent of them died from causes considered preventable by doctors. The "non-Christian Scientists" on the average lived four years longer if they were women and two longer if they were men. It was speculated that the reason for this was that male Christian Scientists are more likely to seek medical help than female believers. This cohort study does not directly address the efficacy of the healing system of Christian Science since some members may have sought traditional medical treatment. The "lay group" were presumably using conventional medicine or some alternative healing means rather than nothing at all — consequently the study only evaluates the comparative efficacy of Christian Science vis-a-vis some other system or systems, rather than its healing efficacy per se. Defenders point out that many people turn to Christian Science after medical techniques have failed; consequently, the two groups may not be comparable.

Since Christian Science practitioners do not diagnose disease, and Christian Scientists do not believe in contagion, Christian Scientists generally will not consider avoiding being in contact with other Christian Scientists in order to avoid infection or contagion. However, Mary Baker Eddy counsels that they should obey the law: for example, being obedient to quarantines. Similarly, Christian Scientists usually must decide for themselves whether they feel a need for having surgery in lieu of Christian Science treatment before a condition — e. g. cancer — reaches the stage where it is considered medically inoperable.

In some cases, Christian Scientists will be examined by a doctor for informational purposes. Testimonies of healings reported in Christian Science publications are sometimes drawn from cases in which a doctor confirmed the initial condition and the subsequent healing.

Theological Controversies

Christian Science is sometimes criticized by some mainstream Christians for its theological differences (mostly due to its assertion of the illusory nature of the material world, its definition of "Jesus" and the "Christ", its explanation of the Trinity and a personal God, and its basis of the unreality of evil).

Adherents of Christian Science cite the Bible (e. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin g. Mark 16: 15-18 and Luke 10:1, 9, 17) as an indication that belief in God should be demonstrated in healing. Mary Baker Eddy, however, was no biblical fundamentalist, and has often been criticised by fundamentalists who believe that the Bible is both inerrant and free of internal contradictions. She wrote: "The decisions by vote of Church Councils as to what should and should not be considered Holy Writ; the manifest mistakes in the ancient versions; the thirty thousand different readings in the Old Testament, and the three hundred thousand in the New,--these facts show how a mortal and material sense stole into the divine record, with its own hue darkening to some extent the inspired pages. " (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 139. )

Christian Science offers an explanation of why, according to its teaching, evil is not sent from God and hence is not real. Mary Baker Eddy touches upon this subject in her book Unity of Good. In response to the question: "Does God know or behold sin, sickness, and death?" she writes: "The nature and character of God is so little apprehended and demonstrated by mortals, that I counsel my students to defer this infinite inquiry, in their discussions of Christian Science. In fact, they had better leave the subject untouched, until they draw nearer to the divine character, and are practically able to testify, by their lives, that as they come closer to the true understanding of God they lose all sense of error. "

There has been internal controversy in the Christian Science movement regarding the status of Mary Baker Eddy herself. Mary Baker Eddy (born Mary Morse Baker July 16, 1821 &ndash December 3, 1910) was the founder of the Christian Science Some Christian Scientists claim (and others deny) that her appearance on the world stage was specifically prophesied in the Bible. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin

Some Christian theologians characterize Christian Science as a cult (Martin, 2003) (also refer to external sites providing criticisms of Christian Science). Christian Science is believed by its supporters to be a system of spiritually scientific truths which are summed up in the two commandments having one God one Mind one Life Truth A basis of such criticisms includes the comment of Mary Baker Eddy in reply to a questioner who asked how she knew there ever was such a person as Christ Jesus:

"If there had never existed such a person as the Galilean Prophet, it would make no difference to me. I should still know that God's spiritual ideal is the only real man in His image and likeness. "(Eddy, The First Church of Christ Scientist and Miscellany, pp. 318, 319). This is interpreted by opponents of Christian Science as Mary Baker Eddy downgrading the importance of Jesus, rather than making a basic metaphysical point.

There are apparently contradictory statements on the question of the death of Jesus in Mary Baker Eddy's writings; since Christian Science teaches that death is an illusion, this may help to explain the apparent contradictions. Death is the termination of the biological functions that define living Organisms It refers both to a specific

Christian Science and Civil Society

Christian Scientists, like Mary Baker Eddy herself, generally defend the separation of church and state as affording a protection for civil freedom and religion. Mary Baker Eddy (born Mary Morse Baker July 16, 1821 &ndash December 3, 1910) was the founder of the Christian Science Separation of church and state is a Political and Legal Doctrine that Government and religious institutions are to be kept separate However, Mary Baker Eddy insisted on obedience by Christian Scientists to state laws in regard to health care. Progressively for her time, she was in favour of women's rights, and rejected the "corporeal punishment" of children. (While she generally steered clear of politics per se, she stated her support of the Monroe Doctrine as well as her opposition to imperialism and economic monopoly--The Christian Science Monitor, which she founded, has traditionally been a staunch defender of civil liberties and individual freedom, though it did support the prohibition of alcohol. The Monroe Doctrine is a US doctrine which on December 2 1823 stated that European powers were no longer to colonize or interfere with The Christian Science Monitor (CSM is an international Newspaper published daily Monday through Friday Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, also known as Noble Experiment, refers to a Sumptuary law which prohibits Alcohol )

Christian Science and homosexuality

Christian Science publications, including The Christian Science Sentinel, have in the past published testimonies wherein the testifier describes their own "healing" of homosexuality. The writings of Mary Baker Eddy prescribe the living of a morally decent life, which is not an explicit condemnation of homosexuality, but can account for some of the discomfort with a homosexual lifestyle seen within some Christian Science communities. There is some dissent among Christian Scientists as to what exactly the position with regard to homosexuality ought to be; in this matter as in others (such as abortion) the Church itself chooses not to have an official position, as it is considered that each individual Christian Scientist should seek their own highest sense of right through prayer.

Organizations

The Principia is a Christian Science Grade School Located in a suburb of St. Louis Missouri. The Principia College is located one hour north of the Grade School in the quiet small town of Elsah, Illinois. The Principia School

Many Christian Science youth camps and schools from all around the world can be found on this website click here

See also

Resources

References

  1. ^ (Eddy, 1934 [1906]: pp. 1-17. )
  2. ^ Eddy, 1934 [1906], pp. 1-17
  3. ^ Eddy, pp. 443:1--444:30
  4. ^ Mother Church Web site cites both numbers
  5. ^ Rudimental Divine Science, 1936 [1891], p. 1.
  6. ^ Science and Health, 1934 [1875], p. 134.
  7. ^ a b Peel, Robert E. (1987), Spiritual Healing in a Scientific Age, Harper and Row, ISBN 0-06-066484-3 
  8. ^ Eddy, 1934, p. Historian and journalist Robert Peel (1909-1992 was a significant ecumenical figure in Christian Science, best known for writing his church's definitive three-volume 444.
  9. ^ Proceedings in Equity, 1921, Christian Science Publishing Society, Boston
  10. ^ Paine, Albert Bigelow, Mark Twain: A Biography; the Personal and Literary Life of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, vol. Albert Bigelow Paine ( 10 July 1861 &ndash 9 April 1937) was an American Author and Biographer best known for 3, p. 1271, ISBN 0791045390, <http://ia310935.us.archive.org/0/items/marktwainabiogra02988gut/old/mt7bg11.txt> 
  11. ^ Gottschalk, Stephen (2005), Rolling Away the Stone: Mary Baker Eddy's Challenge to Materialism, Indiana University Press, p. 86, ISBN 0253346738, <http://books.google.com/books?id=N9dRtPR5uwYC&pg=PA86&lpg=PA86&ots=-JomWCElJw&sig=7YyXE8idxCrVEqTjwkaEBT7paYY> 
  12. ^ See Prince v. Massachusetts, 321 US 158 (1944) and Jehovah's Witnesses v. Washington King County Hospital, 278 F Supp 488 (Washington DC 1967), affirmed per curiam 390 US 598 (1968).
  13. ^ Simpson, W. F. (1989-09-22). "Comparative longevity in a college cohort of Christian Scientists". Journal of the American Medical Association 262 (12): 1657-1658. PMID 2769921.  

External links

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Dissenting, secessionist or independent groups

Neutral

Criticism of Christian Science from atheist, Christian, and other perspectives

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