Christian ScienceChristian Science

The Mother Church in Boston, MA

What is Christian What is Christian Science?Science?

Based on works of JesusBased on works of Jesus Authority comes from the BibleAuthority comes from the Bible Major part of Christian Science is healing Major part of Christian Science is healing

of physical disease and sin by spiritual of physical disease and sin by spiritual means means alonealone

3,200 churches in 48 countries exist today3,200 churches in 48 countries exist today Christian Science is Christian Science is NOTNOT Scientology Scientology

which was founded 75 years after Christian which was founded 75 years after Christian Science and is not even a Christian Science and is not even a Christian denomination.denomination.

HistoryHistory Founded by Mary Baker Eddy in Boston, Founded by Mary Baker Eddy in Boston,

MassachusettsMassachusetts 1879 – Formal organization of Church of 1879 – Formal organization of Church of

Christ Scientist as voted by Eddy and her Christ Scientist as voted by Eddy and her studentsstudents

1881 – Eddy opens a metaphysical college 1881 – Eddy opens a metaphysical college and charges $300 for 12 healing lessonsand charges $300 for 12 healing lessons

1883 – Founding of 1883 – Founding of Christian Science MonitorChristian Science Monitor 1892 – Reorganization of church1892 – Reorganization of church 1895 – 1895 – Manual of the Mother ChurchManual of the Mother Church, the , the

church manual first issuedchurch manual first issued

Mary Baker EddyMary Baker Eddy Born Mary Ann Morse Baker in Born Mary Ann Morse Baker in

New Hampshire in 1821New Hampshire in 1821 Daughter of New Hampshire Daughter of New Hampshire

Congressionalist church memberCongressionalist church member Often sickOften sick Influenced by Phineas P. Quimby Influenced by Phineas P. Quimby

– a mental healer– a mental healer Published Published Science and the Health Science and the Health

with Key to the Scriptureswith Key to the Scriptures in in 18751875

Died in 1910Died in 1910

The Marriages of Mary The Marriages of Mary Baker EddyBaker Eddy

Eddy married George Glover in 1843 Eddy married George Glover in 1843 at age 22at age 22

Glover died seven months laterGlover died seven months later Eddy married Dr. Daniel Patterson, Eddy married Dr. Daniel Patterson,

but later got divorcedbut later got divorced Married Asa Eddy in 1877Married Asa Eddy in 1877

PublicationsPublications

Founded by Mary Baker Eddy in Founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1883:1883:

Christian Science MonitorChristian Science Monitor – monthly – monthly publicationpublication

Christian Science SentinelChristian Science Sentinel – weekly – weekly publicationpublication

Christian Science Herald Christian Science Herald – – publication printed in foreign publication printed in foreign languageslanguages

The Tenets of Christian The Tenets of Christian ScienceScience

1.1. The inspired Word of the Bible is the The inspired Word of the Bible is the only guide to eternal lifeonly guide to eternal life

2.2. Acknowledge one infinite God, his son Acknowledge one infinite God, his son one Christ, the Holy Ghost (Divine one Christ, the Holy Ghost (Divine Comforter), and man in God’s imageComforter), and man in God’s image

3.3. Acknowledge God’s forgiveness of sinAcknowledge God’s forgiveness of sin4.4. Acknowledge Jesus’ atonement as Acknowledge Jesus’ atonement as

God’s love and that man is saved God’s love and that man is saved through Christ, Truth, Life, and Lovethrough Christ, Truth, Life, and Love

The Tenets of Christian The Tenets of Christian ScienceScience

5.5. Acknowledge that Jesus’ crucifixion Acknowledge that Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection served to help and resurrection served to help people understand eternal Lifepeople understand eternal Life

6.6. Promise to do unto other as they Promise to do unto other as they would to do them and to be would to do them and to be merciful, just, and pure.merciful, just, and pure.

BeliefsBeliefs

Christian Scientists believe God is:Christian Scientists believe God is: Infinite, divine Mind, Sprit, Soul, Infinite, divine Mind, Sprit, Soul,

Principle, Life, Truth, and LovePrinciple, Life, Truth, and Love Human thought is the saving power Human thought is the saving power

of divine Truthof divine Truth Through a scientific understanding Through a scientific understanding

in God, all sin, sickness, fear, or in God, all sin, sickness, fear, or ignorance can be overcomeignorance can be overcome

PurposePurpose

Salvation for all mankindSalvation for all mankind Healing based on spiritual meansHealing based on spiritual means

Church maintains sanatoriums where Church maintains sanatoriums where nurses are trained to help people nurses are trained to help people through their healing processthrough their healing process

No medical aidNo medical aid Some exceptions: midwife or doctor at Some exceptions: midwife or doctor at

childbirth, surgeon for broken bonechildbirth, surgeon for broken bone

Church GovernmentChurch Government

All churches are branched from the All churches are branched from the Mother ChurchMother Church

Board of Directors govern the churchBoard of Directors govern the church If a spot on the Board is vacant, a If a spot on the Board is vacant, a

Member of the Mother Church is elected Member of the Mother Church is elected by the remaining Board membersby the remaining Board members

The first branch in the community is The first branch in the community is called The First Church of Christ, called The First Church of Christ, ScientistScientist

ServicesServices

Conducted by a First and Second Conducted by a First and Second ReaderReader

Sunday services consist of:Sunday services consist of: Reading of a Lesson-Sermon which is Reading of a Lesson-Sermon which is

composed of excerpts from both the Bible composed of excerpts from both the Bible and Eddy’s and Eddy’s Science and HealthScience and Health

Wednesday meetings – Church members Wednesday meetings – Church members share their testimonies of healing, share their testimonies of healing, saving, and guiding power of Godsaving, and guiding power of God

Christian Science vs. Christian Science vs. CatholicismCatholicism

Christian ScienceChristian Science No clergyNo clergy Do not recognize the Pope Do not recognize the Pope

as head of churchas head of church Do not believe in medical Do not believe in medical

aidaid Use both the Bible and Use both the Bible and

Science and Health with Science and Health with Key to the ScriptureKey to the Scripture

Believe that evil is a lie Believe that evil is a lie about God and His about God and His creationcreation

Celebrate baptism and Celebrate baptism and EucharistEucharist

Do not consider marriage Do not consider marriage a sacramenta sacrament

CatholicismCatholicism Have a clergyHave a clergy Recognize the Pope as Recognize the Pope as

the head of the Churchthe head of the Church Believe in the use of Believe in the use of

medical aidmedical aid Use only the BibleUse only the Bible Believe that evil existsBelieve that evil exists Celebrate seven Celebrate seven

sacramentssacraments Consider marriage a Consider marriage a

sacramentsacrament

Famous Christian Famous Christian ScientistsScientists

Jill CarrollJill Carroll – reporter for – reporter for The Christian The Christian Science Monitor Science Monitor who was recently taken who was recently taken hostage in Iraq but was later releasedhostage in Iraq but was later released

Val Kilmer Val Kilmer - actor- actor Marilyn MonroeMarilyn Monroe - actress - actress Michael Nesmith Michael Nesmith – singer from The – singer from The

MonkeesMonkees Mickey Rooney Mickey Rooney - actor- actor Ellen DeGeneres Ellen DeGeneres – comedian, actress– comedian, actress