Christian Science – Part 2

By: Dr. John Ankerberg / Dr. John Weldon; ©2001

A brief look at the origin, dangers and theological teachings of Christian Science.

Christian Science

(from Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions, Harvest House, 1999)

INFO AT A GLANCE

Name: Christian Science

Purpose: The realization of God and Good as the means to health and prosperity.

Founder: Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910).

Source of authority: The writings of Eddy as interpreted by Christian Science.

Revealed teachings: Yes. Christian Science is the outcome of Eddy’s involvement in mediumism and Quimbyism. (Phineas Parker Quimby promoted an early form of mental/ psychic healing that strongly influenced Eddy.)

Examples of occult potential: Mrs. Eddy was a spiritistic medium for about 25 years. There is an openness to certain psychic abilities in Science and Health, although misin­terpreted in divine terms. Telepathy is possible in treatments, and Christian Science healing may be considered a form of psychic healing.

Examples of Key Literature: Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures; Miscella­neous Writings; Seven Messages to the Mother Church; Church Manual; and other texts by Mary Baker Eddy.

Attitude toward Christianity: Rejecting.

Quotes:

“If there had never existed such a person as the Galilean Prophet, it would make no difference to me.” (Mary Baker Eddy, First Church of Christ Scientist and Miscellany, pp. 318-319.)

“We have no more proof of human discord, sin, sickness, disease, or death,— than we have that the earth’s surface is flat, and her motions imaginary.” (Mary Baker Eddy, Miscellaneous Writings, p. 65.)

“False theology would tell you that it is sin we need to be saved from.” (Edward Kimball, Lectures and Articles on Christian Science, p. 209.)

DOCTRINAL SUMMARY

God: Impersonal-personal; “spiritually pantheistic” (someone who believed God is every­thing and that matter is an illusion); Unipersonal.

Jesus: A highly enlightened Christian Scientist.

The Christ: The divine manifestation of God/Christian Science.

The Holy Spirit: Christian Science.

The Trinity: Interpreted as “Life, Truth and Love,” and other triplets.

Salvation: By awareness, divine realization.

Man: Part of God.

Sin: Ignorance; the false beliefs of “mortal mind.”

Satan: A Christian myth.

The Second Coming: Christian Science.

The Fall: A Christian myth.

The Bible: An inferior revelation properly interpreted only by Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.

Death: Non-existent.

Heaven and Hell: Mental states, not places.