Christian Science is a religious movement that emerged in the 19th century, blending elements of Christianity, metaphysical healing, and idealist philosophy. It was founded by Mary Baker Eddy, who claimed to have discovered a spiritual system of healing based on the teachings of Jesus. This article explores the origins, inspirations, beliefs, and evolution of Christian Science, as well as what it looks like today.
The Founder: Mary Baker Eddy
Christian Science was founded by Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910), an American religious leader who claimed to have uncovered a divine method of spiritual healing. Her journey began with her personal struggles with chronic illness and injury, which led her to explore alternative methods of healing.
A pivotal moment came in 1866, when Eddy experienced what she described as a miraculous healing after reading a passage from the Bible, particularly Matthew 9:2, where Jesus heals a paralyzed man. She believed this experience revealed a spiritual law of healing that could be understood and applied by others.
Eddy spent years studying the Bible, as well as the ideas of contemporary philosophers and spiritual thinkers, before publishing her central work, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures in 1875. This book became the foundational text of Christian Science, alongside the Bible.
Philosophical and Religious Influences
Christian Science was influenced by several religious and philosophical movements of the 19th century:
1. New England Protestantism
- Eddy grew up in a strict Congregationalist household in New England, where she was deeply influenced by Puritan theology, particularly the emphasis on divine sovereignty and biblical authority.
2. Transcendentalism
- The Transcendentalist movement, led by figures like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, emphasized the idea that divine truth could be understood through intuition and personal experience rather than church doctrine.
3. Idealist Philosophy
- Eddy was influenced by metaphysical idealism, the belief that reality is fundamentally spiritual, not material. She came to believe that the physical world, including sickness and death, was an illusion—a key tenet of Christian Science.
4. Faith Healing and Mind-Cure Movements
- The mind-cure movement, popular in 19th-century America, promoted the idea that disease was caused by mental or spiritual imbalances rather than purely physical causes.
- Phineas Parkhurst Quimby, a well-known healer, had a profound impact on Eddy. Quimby practiced mental healing, arguing that illness was caused by false beliefs rather than biological conditions. Eddy initially admired Quimby’s work but later rejected his influence, claiming her system of healing was divinely revealed through the Bible.
Core Beliefs of Christian Science
Christian Science teaches that God is all-powerful and wholly good, and that the material world, including sickness and suffering, is an illusion. Some of the key beliefs include:
- God is entirely spiritual, and humans are reflections of God.
- Matter is not real; reality is purely spiritual.
- Sin, sickness, and death are illusions that result from mistaken beliefs.
- Healing comes through prayer and spiritual understanding, not medicine.
- Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of spiritual healing and divine truth.
Because of these beliefs, Christian Scientists traditionally avoid medical treatment, relying instead on prayer and spiritual healing.
The Growth and Spread of Christian Science
Christian Science grew rapidly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as Eddy established the Church of Christ, Scientist in 1879 and later founded The Christian Science Monitor, a highly respected international newspaper.
By the early 20th century, the movement had:
- Thousands of members worldwide
- Established Christian Science Reading Rooms in major cities
- Built Christian Science churches and healing centers
At its peak in the 1930s-1950s, Christian Science had hundreds of thousands of followers.
Christian Science Today
In recent decades, Christian Science has declined in membership, facing challenges such as:
- Public skepticism of faith healing, especially when children have died due to lack of medical care.
- The rise of modern medicine, making spiritual healing less appealing.
- Competition from other spiritual movements, including New Age philosophies and evangelical Christianity.
Today, Christian Science still exists but in a much smaller form, with a focus on:
- Promoting spiritual healing while allowing individual choice regarding medical treatment.
- The Christian Science Monitor, which remains a respected news publication.
- Reading Rooms and study groups that continue to share Eddy’s teachings.
Conclusion
Christian Science emerged in the 19th century as a radical reinterpretation of Christianity, emphasizing spiritual healing and the illusory nature of matter. Influenced by Protestantism, Transcendentalism, and metaphysical healing, it attracted many followers seeking an alternative to traditional medicine.
Although it has declined in influence, Christian Science remains an important part of American religious history. While its radical rejection of medicine has led to controversy, its teachings on prayer, healing, and spiritualitycontinue to inspire some to this day.
