The Dangers of Religion: Christian Science
by Anyone heard of it? Been a part of it? Are a part of it? Many discussions have been done, many skeptics have tried to convince of the fallacies in these cults.
Societies have been founded to prevent further atrocities such as cults like Christian Science.
I bet everyone has heard of the cult “Scientology“. What about Christian Science? Ok, first some background information about Christian Science. It was founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1879. It was basically initiated by her because of a very controversial story. At 45 years old, she had an accident, she fell and was seriously injured, people didn’t think she would ever recover. It was said that she read an extract of the bible, to be precise “Matt. 9:2” (“And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee“). After having read this, the miracle really did occur, she was cured. She was convinced her faith had healed her. She was convinced of Christian Science. A few years, and a publication of a book later, she founded the new “religion”, what she called it. She organized a church in Boston, Massachusetts, basing her church on the new testament.
The following 21 points are basically what the Church is based upon. (Taken from the site: http://www.carm.org/christian_science/doctrine.htm)
1. God is infinite…and there is no other power or source, S&H, 471:18.
2. God is Universal Principle, S&H 331:18-19
3. God cannot indwell a person, S&H 336:19-20
4. God is the only intelligence in the universe, including man S&H 330:11-12
5. God is Mind, S&H 330:20-21; 469:13
6. God is the Father-Mother, S&H 331:30; 332:4
7. The Trinity is Life, Truth, and Love, S&H 331:26
8. Belief in the traditional doctrine of the Trinity is polytheism, S&H 256:9-11
9. Christ is the spiritual idea of sonship S&H 331:30-31
10. Jesus was not the Christ, S&H 333:3-15; 334:3
11. “Jesus Christ is not God, as Jesus himself declared…” S&H 361:12-13
12. Jesus did not reflect the fullness of God, S&H 336:20-21
13. Jesus did not die, S&H 45:32-46:3
14. The Holy Spirit is divine science, S&H 331:31
15. There is no devil, S&H 469:13-17
16. There is no sin, S&H 447:24
17. Evil and good are not real, S&H, 330:25-27; 470:9-14
18. Matter, sin, and sickness are not real, but only illusions,” S&H 335:7-15; 447:27-28.
19. Life is not material or organic, “S&H, 83:21
20. The sacrifice of Jesus was not sufficient to cleanse from sin, “S&H, 25:6.
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Post CommentDaniel
On September 19, 2008 at 12:33 am
Dood,
You begin to write this post with only a slight hint of your opinion in it. Which is fine because it seems you researched this part of your post. I am not denying any of the facts in the first paragraphs and I am not denying the lists of points you have. The problem I have is with your 4th paragraph about your example of a 13 year old kid.
I begin to wonder if you even know what you are talking about, or if you are just going off on an opinionated rant. Have you ever stepped into a Christian Science church, or at the very least researched what happens in one?
First of all, there is no “priest”. There is a reader that reads passages from the Bible and Science and Health. The reader does not inject his/her own opinions as most other religions do.
Secondly, physical abuse has never solved any problems and I doubt anyone at a Christan Science church would hit someone because they were ill.
Thirdly, Christian Scientists do not believe in the devil. You probably would have discovered this if you had read past the first paragraph of the Wikipedia page you got your information from.
Fifthly, Christian Scientists tend to not morn the death of a loved one . They do not believe that death is a sad situation, but rather a progression of the mind to greater spiritual understanding. Funerals are not common among most Christian Science families.
I believe I have said enough so I won’t talk about the misconceptions and rumors in your lasts paragraphs. Although I will say that people in every religion die. You can not accuse Christian Scientists of not caring for their followers due to their beliefs, while every other religion has people of the same age, race, or sex dying too.
You are entitled to your opinion. But before you spread lies all over the internet, please do some legitimate research first. It is an insult to my religion.
Dood
On September 23, 2008 at 5:15 am
Hello Daniel, thank you for the lengthy comment. I do have to correct a few things though…
1.I did not abundantly state that your lecturer calls himself priest
2&3.That was a mere extreme, of course they don’t use physical abuse. Maybe bad wording. I know that you don’t believe in the devil (I even stated that in the listing), that was used as a metaphor for the illusion of the evilness. It has to be read a bit more openminded…
5. (you forgot 4) Thank you for that info, that I did not know.
You are merely stating certain flaws or misunderstandings in my Article…
Of course I am no expert in other religions. Of course people in other religions die. People in EVERY religion die. People are mortal. That is not in question at all.
I would have rather liked to hear, from experiences, if things like “faith healings” work, (which I highly doubt), instead of not being ignorant to Science itself. People HAVE died BECAUSE of that ignorance. People who could have lived longer. THAT was the main point of the article. No insults were intended. Misunderstandings are not lies, metaphorical uses are not lies. The example was an extreme to be able to visualize it. Only the last paragraph was my opinion. I do not believe that illness and sickness can or should be mixed with religion.
Again, I like the fact that you commented, but I would have liked to hear more about your experiene with it, not small corrections of certain misconceptions, misunderstandings or misinterpretations.
Moses Ingram
On November 8, 2008 at 8:40 pm
I am not a member of Christian Science but I have read their main textbook Science And Health With Key To The Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy as well as some other books. I have also attended their Sunday Morning Services on several occasions and at least one(it’s several years ago) of their Tuesday night Testimonial meetings. There is an excellent biography of Mrs Eddy written by Robert Peel and contains three volumes and can be obtain at most public libraries. I have known several Christian Scientists and they were among the finest people I have ever known. I feel that they have a better right to the name Christian than most people in the traditional churches. Mary Baker Eddy was a woman far ahead of her time and probably one of the greatest women who have ever lived. While I am not in complete agreement with all of her teachings, I have great admiration for her and many of her followers and hate to see the trust distorted. Anyone who is strong in their own faith should have no problem checking out the church for themselves before passing judgement.
mike
On January 30, 2009 at 9:33 am
I have studied christian science and I was raised as a Presbyterian. However, there good and bad in all things. The reality however is we do live in a physical body and that cannot be denied for x amount of years. CSers deny it, Its ironic they dont talk about it, but they are afraid of it, even while they deny its reality.
Jeff
On June 15, 2009 at 10:36 am
I have a father who is 77…who came from a family of 2 christan science practitioners…and all I can say is they are all messed up beyond recognition…
May you mind this “new “religion has only been around for less than 200 years. It seems more like a reaction/reflection of the industrial revolution than any sort of impetus (if one could even connect religion to some sort of needed force).
But all I can say is EVERY religion states that as flesh beings we are mortal and as SPIRITS we are immortal. I never seen one that says you live forever in your skin…rediclious!!
So for you to live in your “forever skin” you need to DENY DENY DENY!!!! deny that you are sick!! God is perfect!!!! …so then you are too!!!! What a crock of $$hit.
Mary baker eddy is the biggest peice of crap-story ever told. I cannot believe that this dumb woman could convince the whole world that she “healed” herself by reading the bible…talk about “snake-oil”
Everyone on this earth has lived & died. To think there is some sort of christian science lottery where the most faithful will live forever is a total lie.
My father is slowly comming apart at his old age and claims to feel like he’s “20!!” it’s total lack of credibility cause you can clearly see his senses going and on some off days he complains. Does that mean he’s not 100% completley & blindfully faithful to christan science? It means he’s so lost that he’s in for a “big surprise”
dood2020
On July 16, 2009 at 4:59 pm
You win the best comment award on here, Jeff. Thanks