CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

BEGINNINGS

The origins of Christian Science go back to Phineas Parkhurst Quimby, born in New Lebanon, New Hampshire, in 1802

Quimby used metaphysical techniques he developed to heal people

Quimby believed that physical diseases were the result of wrong thinking or false beliefs

Jesus is just a human who revealed the “Truth” of how to correct the error of sickness

The Christ is an impersonal mind-principle known as the “Truth” or “higher Wisdom” that all people may use

The “New Thought” movement led to three major movements: 1) Unity School of Christianity 2) United Church of Religious Science 3) Christian Science

Mary Baker Eddy, born in New Hampshire in 1821, battled many illnesses when she was young

Eddy first met Quimby in 1862 seeking treatment for spinal inflammation

Eddy studied Quimby’s teachings and in 1875 published her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures

BELIEFS

(1) All Is God

Eddy had the following views concerning God: a) God is a Divine Mind or Divine Principle b) God is all (pantheism) and in all (panentheism) c) God is Spirit

d) God is the only true reality - everything else is an illusion e) The Trinity is a triple Divine Principle: Life, Truth, and Love

The Bible demonstrates God has a personality in several ways: a) He has a will () b) He sees () c) He hears ()

d) He knows () e) He creates ()

The Mormons use to support their view that God has a physical body - Christian Scientists use it to claim humanity is co-eternal with God

quotes God saying, “Let Us make God in Our image, accor1)ding to Our likeness” . . . verse 27 continues, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them”

One cannot assume that words “image” and “likeness” mean humankind is like God in all respects

Here is a very small sample of how our “likeness” to God is very different: a) God is eternal () - humans were created (, ) b) God is holy () - humans “righteous” deeds are as filthy garments (Isa. 64:6)

(2) Jesus A Mere Human

Eddy had the following views on Jesus: a) Jesus was not the Christ but embodied the Christ b) Jesus demonstrated the divine Christ as a way-shower

c) Jesus’ blood could not in any way cleanse anyone from sin d) Jesus cannot save - we save ourselves through the metaphysical principles he taught

“Jesus came to rescue us “from the illusion which calls sin real, and man a sinner, needing a Savior; the illusion which calls sickness real, and man an invalid needing a physician; the illusion that death is real as Life”

Christian Scientists use to argue that Jesus is just a human and not God, “The Father is greater than I”

The President of our country is spoken of as “greater” (many would challenge this), not because of his character or nature, but because of his position

Much the same, God the Father is not greater than Jesus in essence, nature, or character

Scripture is clear that Jesus is God (; ; ; )

(3) Man Is Divine

Eddy had the following views concerning man: a) Man is good and a part of the divine

b) Man is a part of the divine, because God is all in all c) Man is perfect and incapable of sin, sickness, and death

“The fact that a man comes to realize he is God proves he is not God. For if he were God, he never would have passed from a state of ignorance to a state of awareness as to his divinity”

Christian Scientists believe indicates that all human beings have the I AM presence of God within them

Answering some Jews, Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM” ()

“By these sayings Jesus meant, not that the human Jesus was or is eternal, but that the divine idea or Christ was and is so and therefore antedated Abraham; not that the corporeal Jesus was one with the Father, but that that the spiritual idea, Christ, dwells forever in the bosom of the Father”

However, Jesus in is equating himself with the God Almighty, the God Almighty who revealed himself to Moses as “I AM WHO I AM” ()

(4) The Crucifixion and Resurrection Did Not Happen

Eddy had the following views concerning the crucifixion and resurrection: a) Jesus did not die because death is an illusion b) Since death is an illusion, there could be no resurrection

Here are a few thoughts Christian Scientists must hear: a) Was Jesus willingly deceiving his disciples?

b) We would have to call into question Jesus’ response to Thomas to “stop doubting and believe by putting his finger into the scar in Christ’s hand and wound in his side” ()

c) The resurrected Christ was seen by more than 500 witnesses at one time ()

d) The Bible tells us Jesus’ resurrected body was seen (), heard (), and touched ()

(5) Sin, Sickness, And Death Are Illusions

Eddy believes sin, sickness, and death are “states of false belief” and can be defeated by simply denying them

Eddy on Dec. 19th, 1898, “challenged the world to disprove” that she had healed a variety of serious illnesses, including cancer

Dr. Charles A. Reed, who later became president of the AMA, offered to present Eddy similar cases for her to heal

“If she, by her Christian Science, shall cure any one of them, I shall proclaim her omnipotence from the housetops; and, if she shall cure all, or even half of them, I shall cheerfully crawl upon my hands and knees that I may but touch the hem of her walking-dress”

Mary Baker Eddy denied the existence of sin, sickness, and death even though she dealt with many illnesses

Eddy used morphine for her pain, wore eyeglasses, and had teeth extractions

Christian Scientists believe that king Asa died from seeking the aid of a physician instead of the LORD ()

However, all this verse is pointing out is that the Lord wants to be put first (; ; )

Further, the Bible does recommend the use of medicine (; )

Jesus responded to the Pharisees by saying, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick” ()

(6) Salvation

Eddy had the following views concerning salvation: a) Salvation is achieved by ceasing to believe in the illusion of sin, sickness, and death

b) Man must overcome the errors of mortal mind, not sin c) Eventually all humans will be “saved,” since ultimately nothing exists except God or Divine Mind

d) Man never loses his identity and is not annihilated

must be emphasized to the Christian Scientist so they can receive a real salvation by trusting in a real Savior Jesus Christ

Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life” ()

(7) The Bible Needs To Be Interpreted Esoterically

By this Eddy means one must seek the spiritual interpretation (secret, mystical, deeper, hidden, inner meaning)

The only way to get this meaning is to use Eddy’s Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures

We are to judge the Bible according to Eddy’s book - instead of judging Eddy’s book according to the Bible

Here is a list of reasons why esotericism is an unreliable hermeneutic:

a) Esotericism overlooks the context of Bible verses b) Esotericism overlooks grammar, history, and culture

c) Esotericism opposes the pattern established by Jesus Christ on how to properly interpret Scripture