What is Christian Science?

The founder of Christian Science is Mary Baker Eddy. In reaction to a strict Calvinistic doctrine of predestination. She didn’t want to be "saved" if there were others who were predestined not to be. She was highly educated (a graduate of Dartmouth) which can be seen in her writings. Due to much physical and emotional sickness in her life, she resorted to a variety of types of healing techniques (hypnotism, spiritualism, etc.). This accounts in part for the whole emphasis of Christian Science on healing of mind and body. She believed that her very real human experiences were just "dreams," but only the mind is real.

She named her religion "Christian" because she felt it was compassionate, helpful, and spiritual. She called God immortal Mind. That which sins, suffers and dies she called mortal mind. The physical senses, of sensuous nature, she called error and shadow. The soul was called substance, because she felt it alone was truly substantial.

Regarding their beliefs, Mrs. Eddy said, "…the Scriptures cannot properly be interpreted in a literal way. The truths they teach must be spiritually discerned…. The literal rendering of the Scriptures makes them nothing valuable, but often is the foundation of unbelief and hopelessness. The metaphysical rendering is health and peace and hope for all." The self-prescribed reinterpretation of Scripture by Christian Scientists throws people into doctrinal chaos. They believe God is not a person. He "is Love; and Love is Principle, not person…." They believe that death is not real, so Jesus did not die. His death then is not seen as an atonement for our sins. They believe the Second Coming of Christ has happened through Christian Science. They identify Jesus as "a Christian Scientist," a "medium." They believe sin, death, and evil are unreal. We only believe it is, they say, because we still have a "mortal mind."

This is just a brief overview of Christian Science. If you need more information in order to better minister God’s love to those around you, you may want to check your local Christian bookstore. Dr. Walter Martin’s book, Kingdom of the Cults, I’m sure would be beneficial.

"Brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He consecrated for us..." Hebrews 10:19-20

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Last updated on: 7/09/03