Christian Science

1
Christian Science
The Mother Church in Boston, MA
2
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.

3
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

4
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

5
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

6
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

7
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
   Gods image
3. Acknowledge Gods forgiveness of sin
4. Acknowledge Jesus atonement as Gods love and
   that man is saved through Christ, Truth, Life,
   and Love

8
The Tenets of Christian Science

1. Acknowledge that Jesus crucifixion and
   resurrection served to help people understand
   eternal Life
2. Promise to do unto other as they would to do them
   and to be merciful, just, and pure.

9
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

10
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

11
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

12
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 Eddys Science
  and Health
• Wednesday meetings Church members share their
  testimonies of healing, saving, and guiding power
  of God

13
Christian Science vs. Catholicism

• Christian Science
• No clergy
• Do not recognize the Pope as head of church
• Do not believe in medical aid
• Use both the Bible and Science and Health with
  Key to the Scripture
• Believe that evil is a lie about God and His
  creation
• Celebrate baptism and Eucharist
• Do not consider marriage a sacrament

• Catholicism
• Have a clergy
• Recognize the Pope as the head of the Church
• Believe in the use of medical aid
• Use only the Bible
• Believe that evil exists
• Celebrate seven sacraments
• Consider marriage a sacrament

14
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