What is Christian Science?

Answer

Christian Science was founded by Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910), who introduced innovative concepts about spirituality and health. Following her own healing experience in 1866, Eddy dedicated years to studying the Bible, prayer, and exploring various healing practices. This effort led to the development of a healing system she named “Christian Science” in 1879. Her publication, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, marked a significant advancement in understanding the connection between mind, body, and spirit. Subsequently, she established a college, a church, a publishing venture, and the esteemed newspaper “The Christian Science Monitor.” Due to its resemblance to other organizations, some consider Christian Science to be a non-Christian sect.

Christian Science asserts that God—Father-Mother of all—is entirely good and purely spiritual, and that all of God’s creation, including the true essence of every individual, reflects the flawless spiritual image of the Divine. Given that God’s creation is inherently good, afflictions such as illness, death, and sin are not inherent in fundamental reality. Instead, these afflictions arise from living apart from God. Prayer is a fundamental means of drawing closer to God and addressing human ailments. This contrasts with the biblical teaching that humanity is born sinful as a consequence of Adam’s transgression, and that sin creates a separation from God. Without God’s redeeming grace through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, we would remain afflicted by the ultimate malady—sin.

Rather than emphasizing that Jesus cures our spiritual maladies (see Isaiah 53:5), Christian Scientists view Jesus’ ministry as a model for healing, believing it illustrates the central role of healing in salvation. Christian Scientists engage in prayer to deepen their understanding of God and God’s love daily, seeking to encounter and facilitate the harmonizing, curative impact of this comprehension.

For the majority of Christian Scientists, spiritual healing is the preferred initial approach, leading them to turn to the Christian Science practitioners for assistance.The power of prayer instead of medical treatment. Government authorities have at times questioned this approach, particularly when medical care is not provided to minors. Nonetheless, there is no church policy that dictates members’ healthcare choices.

Christian Science does not have ministers. Instead, the Bible and Science and Health serve as the pastor and preacher. Bible lessons are studied daily and read aloud on Sundays by two elected lay members of each local congregation. Christian Science churches also conduct weekly testimonial meetings, during which congregation members share stories of healing and renewal.

Among all the “Christian” sects in existence, “Christian Science” is the most inaccurately labeled. Christian Science is neither Christian nor rooted in science. It rejects all the fundamental truths that define a system as “Christian.” In reality, Christian Science opposes science and advocates for mystical new-age spirituality as the means for physical and spiritual recovery. Christian Science should be acknowledged and dismissed as the anti-Christian sect that it is.