Christian Science
Christian Science is a religious cult founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1879, based on the belief that the material world is an illusion and true reality is spiritual. It emphasizes healing through prayer and understanding God as divine Love, often relying on spiritual means rather than medical treatment.
Founder: Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910) established the faith after a personal healing experience, publishing her foundational work in 1875.
Origin: The First Church of Christ, Scientist, was established in Massachusetts in 1879.
The church publishes The Christian Science Monitor, an international news organization.
The headquarters of the Church of Christ, Scientist, known as The Mother Church, is located at 250 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston
Role of Prayer: Prayer is used as a proactive method for healing and navigating life, often termed "Christian Science treatment".
Practitioners: Church members known as practitioners are trained to help others through prayer-based healing.
Healthcare: Adherents typically rely on prayer, often foregoing conventional medical treatment.
Daily Life: Adherents often study lessons from the Bible and Science and Health, which they consider their "pastor"
Reality is Spiritual: God, who is divine Spirit and Love, is the only reality.
Matter is Unreal: The physical world, including disease, sin, and death, is considered an illusion or "mortal error". "There is no life, truth, intelligence nor substance in matter. All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all (S & H, 468)"
Healing through Truth: Sickness can be healed by changing one's thought to align with God's truth, as practiced by Jesus.
Key Text: Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy is central to the faith, serving alongside the Bible
Christian Science Reading Rooms are quiet, public spaces maintained by local branch churches for spiritual study, reflection, and exploring the Bible and Christian Science literature. Acting as both bookstores and libraries, they provide resources like Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, aiming to promote spiritual healing and understanding.
Christian Science interprets the Trinity non-corporeally as the "triune Principle"—Life, Truth, and Love—rather than three distinct persons. It emphasizes a strict monotheism, viewing God as one infinite Mind or Spirit. The Trinity is understood as:
Father: The divine Principle of being.
Son: The spiritual idea of this Principle. At-one-ment": Jesus is viewed as the "Way-shower"
Holy Ghost: Divine Science/the Comforter
Christian Scientists view Jesus as the "Way-shower" and the most spiritual man to walk the earth, identifying him as the Son of God, though not God Himself. They distinguish between "Jesus" (the human) and "Christ" (the divine idea or Truth). Jesus is believed to have demonstrated Christ-healing, showing humanity how to overcome sin, and disease. Man as God’s idea is already saved with an everlasting salvation (Miscellaneous Writings, 261). 2. One sacrifice, however great, is insufficient to pay the debt of sin (S & H, 25).
In Christian Science, salvation is defined as a present, mental awakening from the illusion of material existence to the reality of spiritual life, rather than a future salvation from sin or hell. It involves understanding that man is already perfect and spiritual, created by God, and demonstrating this truth by overcoming sickness, sin, and death.
In Christian Science, heaven is understood not as a physical location or a destination after death, but as a present, harmonious state of consciousness—the "atmosphere of Soul". It is defined by the reign of divine Principle, where peace, love, and spiritual understanding exist, free from sin, sickness, and death.
Quote: Disease being made by our belief or by our parents’ belief or by public opinion there is no formula of argument to be adopted, but every one must fit in their particular case. There it requires great shrewdness or wisdom to get the better of the error.
Science differs from orthodox Christianity by not holding to the traditional doctrine of the Trinity and viewing Heaven/Hell as states of mind rather than physical places.
Christian Science is a mix of metaphysics, New Age, and Christianity.
There is no exact, official statistic for deaths caused by Christian Science teachings, but it must be high! At least 50 cases have resulted in criminal charges against practitioners or parents for deaths related to refusing modern medical care for children. The Christian Science emphasis on spiritual healing instead of medicine has led to many deaths from preventable and treatable diseases.
There is no forgiveness and love in Christian Science teachings; the Grace, Mercy, and Love of the Lord Jesus Christ are not there. See the God of Bible page