FOUNDER
MARY BAKER EDDY, born 1812 NH, Congregationalist, saved in teens, devout family
Frequently ill, experiments with various kinds of healing (emotional, unstable)
P. P. QUIMBY, faith healer, laid hands on, convinced person not really sick, called it ‘Christian Science’ She claimed to be healed by him, then stole his ideas
Became spiritualist medium, good at influencing people and getting money
1866 founded Christian Science, claimed it was the 2nd coming of Christ
taught her ‘science’ for $300 (12 lessons), they called selves “Dr” and charged others
NAME
Not Christian or Science!
AUTHORITY
Christian Science the revelation, MB Eddy the revelator. Can’t know the revelation without knowing her. She was the way to God
“Science and Health” (given her by God) very poor and inaccurate until edited by Unitarian minister
Bible is God’s Word, but not inspired, has 300,000 errors
VIEW of GOD
Impersonal “it” – just ‘mind,” not personal
Pantheists (God is all, all is God) no god apart from creation, we are all part of ‘god’ (like Hinduism)
God is mind, what He created is mind, not matter (matter is unreal, doesn’t really exist)
VIEW of the TRINITY
No such thing, whole idea “suggests heathen gods”
VIEW of CHRIST
No virgin birth (Mary conceived idea of God & named it ‘Jesus’) Jesus = Mary’s spiritual thoughts
Not God, just human man who demonstrated the Christ principle (ideal truth)
Did miracles by realizing there was no material, nothing wrong – not really sick, just think so
Didn’t die (realized there was no such thing) and hid in grave
VIEW of the HOLY SPIRIT
No such thing, substitute “Life, Truth and Love”
Mary Baker Eddy the “Comforter” – fulfilled prophecy of Christ to send Comforter
VIEW of SIN
No sin, Satan, evil – just wrong belief in mind; man really perfect, sinless, unfallen; no right or wrong
VIEW of SALVATION
“Blood of Christ shed on the cross is no more good to cleanse from sin than when it was flowing in His veins.” Salvation = progression to perfection (following Jesus’ example in doing this)
VIEW of HEAVEN & HELL
No heaven or hell, death just an illusion
Can’t say “I am sick,” like saying “God is sick.” “Truth set you free from illusion of sin, sickness & death”