What are the Essential Points of Christian Science?

WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIAL POINTS OF CHRISTIAN SCIENCE?

The best way to learn Christian Science is through careful study of its textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, and the immediate or steadfast mental application of what you learn. Christian Science is an infinite subject!  We never stop learning.  But here are just a few of the essential points of Christian Science in the words of its Discoverer, Mary Baker Eddy:

“This is Christian Science: that mortal mind makes sick, and immortal Mind makes well; that mortal mind makes sinners, while immortal Mind makes saints; that a state of health is but a state of consciousness made manifest on the body, and vice versa; that while one person feels wickedly and acts wickedly, another knows that if he can change this evil sense and  consciousness to a good sense, or conscious goodness, the fruits of goodness will follow, and he has reformed the sinner.”  (Miscellaneous Writings, 219)

“The superiority of spiritual power over sensuous is the central point of Christian Science.”  (S&H 454)

“This conviction, that there is no real pleasure in sin, is one of the most important points in the theology of Christian Science.” (S&H 404) 

“Two essential points of Christian Science are, that neither Life nor man dies, and that God is not the author of sickness.” (S&H 349) 

“The chief stones in the temple of Christian Science are to be found in the following postulates: that Life is God, good, and not evil; that Soul is sinless, not to be found in the body; that Spirit is not, and cannot be, materialized; that Life is not subject to death; that the spiritual real man has no birth, no material life, and no death.” (S&H 288) 

“This is the doctrine of Christian Science: that divine Love cannot be deprived of its manifestation, or object; that joy cannot be turned into sorrow, for sorrow is not the master of joy; that good can never produce evil; that matter can never produce mind nor life result in death. The perfect man — governed by God, his perfect Principle — is sinless and eternal.” (S&H 304)

“The heart that beats mostly for self is seldom alight with love. To live so as to keep human consciousness in constant relation with the divine, the spiritual, and the eternal, is to individualize infinite power; and this is Christian Science.” (Miscellany 160)

A study of the textbook Science and Health will explain the meaning behind those statements, some of which may sound radical to the first-time reader.  When it is realized that man, the “image and likeness” of God, is actually a spiritual idea of the divine Mind, and not the mortal that is testified to by the physical senses, they come to make sense and offer a path out of the the wholly material view of the universe.

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Science and Health can be read or listened to for free at JSH Online.
It is also available on Amazon and in book stores.

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How does Christian Science define God?

HOW DOES CHRISTIAN SCIENCE DEFINE GOD?

In the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,  one brief answer to this question “What is God?” is as follows:

“God is incorporeal, divine, supreme, infinite Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love.” (S&H 465)

Mary Baker Eddy goes on to explain that those terms are “synonymous,” and writes:

“They refer to one absolute God. They are also intended to express the nature, essence,
and wholeness of Deity. The attributes of God are justice, mercy, wisdom, goodness,
and so on.” (S&H 465)

Elsewhere, in the Glossary of Science and Health, she defines God this way:

God. The great I am; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal; Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love; all substance; intelligence.

The entire textbook explores the “nature, essence, and wholeness” of God, which is the
foundation for the system of Christian Science. Christian Scientists study and pray daily
to get a better understanding of our heavenly Father-Mother.

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To learn more about the teachings of Christian Science and to access the textbook
Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, visit JSH Online. 
Science and Health is also available on Amazon and other book stores.

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What is the Mission or Purpose of Christian Science?

WHAT IS THE MISSION OR PURPOSE OF CHRISTIAN SCIENCE?

Those who have studied the life of Mary Baker Eddy know that she desperately sought relief from years of physical suffering. When she found that God’s laws are available to heal sickness, she devoted her life to proving these laws, and teaching others how to demonstrate them, so that the whole world would benefit from her discovery. She recognized that Christian Science does more than heal sickness; it heals the root cause of physical suffering: the false belief that God’s child is a sinful mortal, rather than the spiritual “image and likeness” of God. She writes:

“It is not alone the mission of Christian Science to heal the sick, but to destroy sin in mortal thought. This work well done will elevate and purify the race. It cannot fail to do this if we devote our best energies to the work.” (Miscellaneous Writings 4)

“Healing physical sickness is the smallest part of Christian Science. It is only the bugle-call to thought and action, in the higher range of infinite goodness. The emphatic purpose of Christian Science is the healing of sin; and this task, sometimes, may be harder than the cure of disease; because, while mortals love to sin, they do not love to be sick.” (Rudimental Divine Science 2)

In addition to healing sin and physical problems, Christian Science enables us to improve our lives in other ways. For example, many students have proven this statement by Mrs. Eddy:

“The term Science, properly understood, refers only to the laws of God and to His
government of the universe, inclusive of man. From this it follows that business men
and cultured scholars have found that Christian Science enhances their endurance
and mental powers, enlarges their perception of character, gives them acuteness and
comprehensiveness and an ability to exceed their ordinary capacity. The human mind,
imbued with this spiritual understanding, becomes more elastic, is capable of greater
endurance, escapes somewhat from itself, and requires less repose. A knowledge of
the Science of being develops the latent abilities and possibilities of man. It extends
the atmosphere of thought, giving mortals access to broader and higher realms. It
raises the thinker into his native air of insight and perspicacity.” (S&H 128)

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What is Christian Science?

Learn more about Mary Baker Eddy at the Mary Baker Eddy Library

Is Christian Science Based Upon the Bible?

IS CHRISTIAN SCIENCE BASED UPON THE BIBLE?

Yes. Mary Baker Eddy explains: “I have found nothing in ancient or in modern systems on which to found my own, except the teachings and demonstrations of our great Master and the lives of prophets and apostles. The Bible has been my only authority. I have had no other guide in ‘the straight and narrow way’ of Truth.” (S&H 123)

The Bible is given in-depth study by most Christian Scientists, who have found new meaning in its timeless lessons by learning to recognize the spiritual intent behind familiar words and stories. We follow the teachings and example of Christ Jesus, who is the Son of God, our Master, and our Way-shower.

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A list of essays and articles on this site.

 

What is Christian Science?

This is the first of a number of questions and answers on Christian Science that originally appeared on the website “First Lessons in Christian Science.”

WHAT IS CHRISTIAN SCIENCE?

Christian Science is a system of spiritual healing. It is a religion and a science.
In a higher sense, it is the term for the divine laws of God that govern His universe.
These laws were discovered by Mary Baker Eddy in 1866. She spent the rest of her
life bringing this discovery to the attention of the world and helping others to understand how to demonstrate these laws in healing sin and sickness. The complete explanation of Christian Science is found in Mary Baker Eddy’s primary work, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, originally published in 1875.

Next:  Is Christian Science Based upon the Bible?

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About this blog and a Welcome

For more about Mary Baker Eddy, visit the website for the Mary Baker Eddy Library