“The vital part, the heart and soul of Christian Science, is Love.”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy)
Christian Science takes a deep dive into timeless truths, actually laws, of infinite unconditional Love that heal. Bible prophets, Jesus, and his followers trusted and proved these laws — revealing health, peace, and harmony — and you can too.
This is the practical spiritual science that Jesus taught. It is one of all-inclusive love for mankind, based on an understanding that God is Spirit itself, and that innate spiritual goodness lies at the heart of everyone’s true eternal identity.
Christian Science shows how to apply Biblical principles Jesus taught, lived, and demonstrated — principles re-discovered by Mary Baker Eddy, who experienced a remarkable healing, healed many others, and wrote a book called Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures that shares timeless, universal principles everyone can learn and practice.
“A higher and more practical Christianity, demonstrating justice and meeting the needs of mortals in sickness and in health, stands at the door of this age, knocking for admission.” — Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What Christian Science is not.
Christian Science does not involve pleading with God to heal the sick and then accepting “His will” — good or bad. Nothing in Christian Science says it’s God’s will that anyone suffer, be sick, or die. Christian Science shows God to be entirely good. By turning away from fear and distressing circumstances, and focusing on God’s allness, thought changes and healing naturally follows.
Christian Science is not a cult. It is not faith healing. It’s not mere positive thinking. It’s not pop psychology/motivational self-improvement. It’s not a “prosperity” gospel. It’s not mind-over-matter, it’s not opposed to doctors, and it’s not Scientology.
Can Christian Science help people who are not “religious” or don’t believe in God?
Yes, because whatever you may call it, you can perceive the “still small voice,” the Spirit-impelled assurance of hope that speaks to your heart, and gives you hope beyond what the five senses can tell you. Even a glimpse of the infinite possibilities of your life as one full of the power to do good, opens a world of healing and transformation. One infinite, all-good God, as understood in Christian Science, is also described by the following interchangeable terms: Principle, Mind, Soul, Spirit, Life, Truth, and Love. It tells us that our true nature is spiritual and good. Christian Science shows how we can each find a reliable, unshakable peace and experience healing in our lives and our world today by understanding God better and discovering what we really are, deeply and eternally.
Who is Mary Baker Eddy?
Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910) founded the worldwide religious movement known as Christian Science, which is dedicated to reinstating primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing. The church she founded, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, and has local branch churches throughout the world.
Mary Baker Eddy was boldly ahead of her time in questioning prevailing ideas about science, religion, medicine, social justice, women’s rights, and more. She was a lifelong Bible scholar, revolutionary spiritual thinker/activist, humanitarian, prolific author, lecturer, teacher, and spiritual healer. In her 88th year, she founded The Christian Science Monitor, an international daily newspaper, winner of multiple Pulitzer prizes for balanced and fair journalism, whose motto is “to injure no man, but to bless all mankind.”
Eddy is remembered for many things including founding a church and an international newspaper, healing others and teaching people to heal, and writing Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. However, she was first and foremost a student of Christ Jesus and a Truth-seeker.
Explore historic achievements and impact on events, people, and culture of the late 19th century in which Mary Baker Eddy lived. Tour the Mapparium in this Boston landmark or visit online the many exhibits including collection of rare/historic edition Bibles. Find educational activities for children. Listen to audio/video podcasts by contemporary “Seekers and Scholars” in this series of talks by academic researchers and historians in religious studies, music, and other professional fields.
What are the basic tenets of Christian Science?
As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life.
We acknowledge and adore one supreme and infinite God. We acknowledge His Son, one Christ; the Holy Ghost or divine Comforter; and man in God’s image and likeness.
We acknowledge God’s forgiveness of sin in the destruction of sin and the spiritual understanding that casts out evil as unreal. But the belief in sin is punished so long as the belief lasts.
We acknowledge Jesus’ atonement as the evidence of divine, efficacious Love, unfolding man’s unity with God through Christ Jesus the Way-shower; and we acknowledge that man is saved through Christ, through Truth, Life, and Love as demonstrated by the Galilean Prophet in healing the sick and overcoming sin and death.
We acknowledge that the crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection served to uplift faith to understand eternal Life, even the allness of Soul, Spirit, and the nothingness of matter.
And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure.
Are you looking for healing? Maybe you want to understand what God is, and why it matters to you. Do you want to know why Christian Science includes the word “science”? Perhaps you just want to see how Christian Science has helped others and if it could help you. Find out more.
What is “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures?”
Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy is the Christian Science textbook and is studied together with The Holy Bible. These two books provide a basis for the weekly Bible Lesson, studied each week and read in Christian Science churches around the world. You can listen to this week’s Bible Lesson by calling 713.595.5210, then press 1.
Science and Healthwith Key to the Scriptures provides a spiritual interpretation of the Bible that shines light on timeless principles that comfort, inspire, and heal. The last 100 pages of the book are letters from people healed by just reading the book.
The book has been translated in 17 languages and Braille and has sold over 11 million copies around the world. The Women’s National Book Association named it one of 75 books by women whose words have changed the world.
Can I be healed by reading Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures?
The answer is yes!
Many people have been healed just by reading Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy.
This book sheds light on the relevance of the Bible and opens thought from a limited material viewpoint to an unlimited spiritual perspective that dissolves problems and heals. It explains how anyone can find and demonstrate spiritual healing in their life and in the world.
The chapter on “Prayer” offers a definition of prayer that inspires and shows how it brings about healing solutions and actions. And the book’s last 100 pages are authenticated accounts by individuals healed of all sorts of problems including medically diagnosed diseases, simply by reading the book.
If you would like to read this book, you can purchase it here or borrow it at any Christian Science Reading Room. You can also read or listen to it online free.
Want to learn more about Christian Science?
Even a small glimpse of the science of Christianity can improve your life and bring useful new ideas to help you, your family, and the world. Learn more at christianscience.com.
Do Christian Scientists seek medical help?
Christian Scientists are free to seek medical care for any reason but they tend to prefer to rely on spiritual means because they have more faith in it. Thousands of testimonies of healing — both written in weekly and monthly publications and shared verbally at Wednesday night testimony meetings — document the reasons for that trust. Christian Scientists respect and appreciate all who work to improve the lot of mankind, including medical professionals.
Do Christian Scientists get vaccinations?
Please click here to read an answer to this question.
What happens at a Christian Science Sunday service?
This hour-long service begins with music and singing of a hymn from the Christian Science hymnal. Two readers, elected by the membership, read a lesson-sermon that changes each week but is the same one that’s read in all Christian Science churches around the world that week, and is studied by Christian Scientists during the preceding week. The timeless subjects of the lessons include, Life, Truth, Love, God, Spirit, Man, Mind, Soul, Substance, Christ Jesus, Reality, Unreality, Soul and Body, God the Preserver of Man, Is the Universe Including Man Evolved by Atomic Force? and others. The service includes a scriptural reading selected by one of the readers, the Lord’s Prayer, spoken slowly by the congregation, a solo, a collection, and two additional hymns. All are welcome. There is no cross with Jesus on display, no stained-glass windows or wine-and-wafer communion, but instead the words “God is Love” (St. John) greet attendees, and quotes from Christ Jesus and Christian Science discoverer, healer, and author Mary Baker Eddy are often found on the front wall.
What happens at a Christian Science Wednesday testimony meeting?
This hour-long meeting begins with a hymn. A reader, elected from the membership, reads their own selected passages from the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures on a topic they chose. Then all are invited to share with the congregation testimonies of healing or inspiration based on their study and use of Christian Science. The service includes two additional hymns and usually an organ postlude.
What is a Christian Science Reading Room?
It’s a place where everyone of any denomination — or none — is welcome to come and explore ideas that have helped untold thousands of people in practical spiritual ways find answers to all of life’s challenges. A Reading Room is a place to read, pray, and find solutions to today’s problems. It’s a space where many have been healed by studying the timeless lessons of the Bible and discovering great truths that address down-to-earth problem. A librarian is always there to help you find the ideas that will help. See what others have found at a Christian Science Reading Room.
