Christian Science is a religion based on Mary Baker Eddy’s 1875 book, Science and Health with a Key to the Scriptures. It focuses on prayer as a means of healing physical and spiritual ailments, and views matter and perception as illusion. Adherents may not use conventional medicine, but are not prohibited from doing so. The religion has approximately 400,000 adherents and publishes The Christian Science Monitor.
Christian Science has several definitions. The term refers to the theories that inspire religion, developed by Mary Baker Eddy in her 1875 book, Science and Health with a Key to the Scriptures. Eddy’s Book is a philosophical and spiritual interpretation of Christianity based on the King James Bible. Many who believe in Eddy’s theories belong to the Church of Christ Scientist and Christian Science can therefore refer to adherents of this Christian denomination. In other words, the term can refer to both Eddy’s theories and the church that grew out of them.
Eddy’s theories on Christian Science are complex but mostly concern how the Christian Scientist views the problems of medical technology and the world at large. According to Eddy, all things, including death, are potentially curable through prayer. Not only medical diseases but also any kind of sin can be cured through prayer according to Eddy.
Eddy believed that the universe God created was perfect. Since it was perfect, it was enough to understand one’s interconnectedness with God and with the perfect whole of the Universe. By recognizing this oneness of self with God and God’s perfect creation, all things are healed. Sickness and sin are seen as a lack of harmony or a perception of perfection and oneness with God. Therefore, prayer to God can help heal this breach, promote unity and thus promote healing.
Many who identify with Christian Science do not use conventional healing methods, although they are not prohibited from healing by prayer alone. A Christian scientist can certainly use conventional medicine if he wishes, but many use prayer as their only form of healing. Therefore, parents who practice Christian Science may not immunize their children or provide antibiotics for infections, as these are seen as true disharmony with God, not disease. In the United States, the separation of church and state protects this viewpoint, although many doctors find it personally distasteful.
Other viewpoints held in Christian Science are that matter and perception are simply illusion. All things are connected and part of God, and spiritual reality is understanding this connection and the perfection of God. For those who practice Christian Science, the things we value in others are not based on matter. For example thinking of a person as a good or holy person cannot be a judgment based on matter. The concepts of good or holy are not physical or tangible, but can only be perceived. These are the real things, while physical bodies are illusory. Focusing on the physical holds us back from our spiritual, higher self.
Christian Science is not based on a fundamental biblical interpretation. Concepts like evolution are not dismissed because they are relatively unimportant, focusing on the physical rather than the spiritual world. Everything to do with sciences essentially focuses on the impermanent illusory world, and therefore it is not reprehensible to learn it in schools.
Many people often misunderstand Christian Science, linking it to more fundamental churches that also believe in spiritual healing. Christian Science differs from the more fundamental forms of Christianity by not being exclusively based on the Bible and by not insisting on literal interpretations of the Bible. The spiritual biblical interpretation is more important.
Today approximately 400,000 Christians are adherents of Christian Science. The religion has approximately 2300 congregations in the United States and numerous other countries. The Christian Science religion also publishes The Christian Science Monitor, often a liberal journal that is read by a much larger population than Christian Science adherents. The Monitor has received several Pulitzer Prizes and been recognized by Project Censored for publishing articles left uncovered by larger news organizations.
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