Mary Baker Eddy founded Christian Science in 1879, a Christian group that focuses on spiritual healing as its primary practice. After a personal healing experience in 1866, Mrs. Eddy claimed to have discovered the laws of spiritual healing within the Bible, which led to the formation of the Church of Christ, Scientist. The idea of a discoverable “Science” that underlay Christ Jesus’ healings works is what led her to include the word “Scientist” in the name of the church. The Mother Church is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and attracts visitors from all over the world. The Christian Science churches are found on every continent and in most countries, and their healing work continues to be documented in the weekly and monthly Christian Science periodicals: the Christian Science Journal, Sentinel, and Herald. An online Christian Science website, jsh-online.com, also has testimonies available for interested readers and seekers of truth.
While Christian scientists claim to have no official doctrines, they adhere to six tenets that outline their beliefs, including acknowledgment of the Bible as a guide to eternal life and the significance of Jesus' atonement. However, their primary spiritual authority is Mary Baker Eddy's book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," which they consider alongside the Bible as their "universal pastor."
In Christian science theology, Jesus and Christ are distinct concepts, with Jesus representing the human man and Christ symbolizing the divine idea. The sect also rejects the traditional Christian doctrine of the Trinity, instead proposing its interpretation of a triune God, which includes Life, Truth, and Love.
Central to Christian Science teachings is the belief that matter and sin are illusory, with spiritual reality superseding material existence. Despite skepticism toward medical intervention, Christian scientists are not explicitly prohibited from seeking medical care, as it is considered a matter of individual conscience.
Christian Science is often associated with its reading rooms and The Christian Science Monitor, established to disseminate Mary Baker Eddy's teachings. Additionally, the sect played a significant role in advocating for religious exemptions in medical neglect laws, which led to exemptions being granted in many states in the past. However, the landscape has shifted over time.
Regarding vaccination mandates, Christian scientists generally respect public health authorities and follow laws while advocating for conscientious exemptions when available. They emphasize cooperation with measures deemed necessary by health officials, viewing it as an expression of Golden Rule ethics and New Testament love.
Christian Science offers a distinctive interpretation of fundamental Christian beliefs, diverging notably on the nature of God, Jesus Christ, salvation, humanity, the Bible, sin, death, and the afterlife. In Christian Science theology, the concept of the Trinity is redefined as three distinct aspects of the divine character of Deity, challenging traditional Christian doctrine that affirms the Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit as distinct persons within one God. Life, Truth, and Love constitute the triune Person called God,— that is, the triply divine Principle, Love. They represent a trinity in unity, three in one,— the same in essence, though multi form in office: God the Father-Mother; Christ the spiritual idea of sonship; divine Science of the holy Comforter. These three express in divine Science the threefold, essential nature of the infinite. They also indicate the divine Principle of scientific being, the intelligent relation of God to man and the universe” (SH 331). While traditional Christianity upholds Jesus Christ as the divine Son of God, asserts instead that he is the Son of God but not God himself. The Christ represents God’s spiritual idea of sonship that no man better lived than Christ Jesus.
Furthermore, Christian Science minimizes the significance of Jesus' sacrificial death and resurrection, viewing them as symbolic rather than essential for salvation, contrary to traditional Christian teachings. According to Christian Science, salvation involves overcoming false beliefs such as sin and death through the realization that God never created anything unlike Himself, being omnipotent and omnipresent good.
Additionally, Christian Science posits that humans are divine spirits or reflections of God, inherently spiritual rather than material beings, diverging from traditional Christian views on the nature of humanity. Christian Science views the Bible as the inspired and authoritative Word of God, however that is it’s spiritual interpretation is what is vital. Christian Science interprets the Bible in light of Mary Baker Eddy's writings. Moreover, Christian Science challenges traditional concepts of sin, death, heaven, and hell, asserting that sin, death, and disease are illusory beliefs stemming from human error and that heaven and hell are mental states rather than literal destinations. Overall, Christian Science offers a unique perspective on theological matters, differing significantly from traditional Christian teachings on various core doctrines.
