Christian Science
The Mother Church in Boston, MA
What is Christian Science?
Based on works of Jesus
Authority comes from the Bible
Major part of Christian Science is healing of
physical disease and sin by spiritual means alone
3,200 churches in 48 countries exist today
Christian Science is NOT Scientology which
was founded 75 years after Christian Science and
is not even a Christian denomination.
History
Founded by Mary Baker Eddy in Boston,
Massachusetts
1879 – Formal organization of Church of Christ
Scientist as voted by Eddy and her students
1881 – Eddy opens a metaphysical college and charges
$300 for 12 healing lessons
1883 – Founding of Christian Science Monitor
1892 – Reorganization of church
1895 – Manual of the Mother Church, the church manual
first issued
Mary Baker Eddy
Born Mary Ann Morse Baker in New
Hampshire in 1821
Daughter of New Hampshire
Congressionalist church member
Often sick
Influenced by Phineas P. Quimby – a
mental healer
Published Science and the Health with Key
to the Scriptures in 1875
Died in 1910
The Marriages of Mary Baker Eddy
Eddy married George Glover in 1843 at age 22
Glover died seven months later
Eddy married Dr. Daniel Patterson, but later got
divorced
Married Asa Eddy in 1877
Publications
Founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1883:
Christian Science Monitor – monthly publication
Christian Science Sentinel – weekly publication
Christian Science Herald – publication printed in
foreign languages
The Tenets of Christian Science
1. The inspired Word of the Bible is the only
guide to eternal life
2. Acknowledge one infinite God, his son one
Christ, the Holy Ghost (Divine Comforter),
and man in God’s image
3. Acknowledge God’s forgiveness of sin
4. Acknowledge Jesus’ atonement as God’s love
and that man is saved through Christ, Truth,
Life, and Love
The Tenets of Christian Science
5. Acknowledge that Jesus’ crucifixion and
resurrection served to help people understand
eternal Life
6. Promise to do unto other as they would to do
them and to be merciful, just, and pure.
Beliefs
Christian Scientists believe God is:
Infinite, divine Mind, Sprit, Soul, Principle, Life,
Truth, and Love
Human thought is the saving power of divine
Truth
Through a scientific understanding in God, all
sin, sickness, fear, or ignorance can be overcome
Purpose
Salvation for all mankind
Healing based on spiritual means
Church maintains sanatoriums where nurses are
trained to help people through their healing process
No medical aid
Some exceptions: midwife or doctor at childbirth, surgeon
for broken bone
Church Government
All churches are branched from the Mother
Church
Board of Directors govern the church
If a spot on the Board is vacant, a Member of
the Mother Church is elected by the remaining
Board members
The first branch in the community is called The
First Church of Christ, Scientist
Services
Conducted by a First and Second Reader
Sunday services consist of:
Reading of a Lesson-Sermon which is composed of
excerpts from both the Bible and Eddy’s Science and
Health
Wednesday meetings – Church members share
their testimonies of healing, saving, and guiding
power of God
Christian Science vs. Catholicism
Christian Science Catholicism
No clergy Have a clergy
Do not recognize the Pope as Recognize the Pope as the
head of church head of the Church
Do not believe in medical aid Believe in the use of medical
Use both the Bible and Science aid
and Health with Key to the Use only the Bible
Scripture Believe that evil exists
Believe that evil is a lie about Celebrate seven sacraments
God and His creation Consider marriage a sacrament
Celebrate baptism and
Eucharist
Do not consider marriage a
sacrament
Famous Christian Scientists
Jill Carroll – reporter for The Christian Science
Monitor who was recently taken hostage in Iraq
but was later released
Val Kilmer - actor
Marilyn Monroe - actress
Michael Nesmith – singer from The Monkees
Mickey Rooney - actor
Ellen DeGeneres – comedian, actress