THE ORIGIN OF DENOMINATIONS
Lesson Seventeen
Christian Science
(1875)
I. ITS BEGINNING:
Mary Baker Eddy is the acknowledged founder of the Christian
Science movement. "She was the discoverer and founder of the
church. She lived from 1821 to 1910. It was her conviction that
the Bible contains laws and truths for spiritual healing." (One
Way, Lilla Ross, pg. 27.) At an early age, she had become a
student of a Dr. Quimby, a noted mental healer, who experimented
in healing by mesmerism and hypnotism. "Dr. Quimby died in 1865
and in 1866 Mrs. Eddy had a timely revelation in which she
claimed to have discovered the teachings of Christian Science.
These teachings she incorporated in a book called Science and
Health with Key to the Scriptures, and after copyrighting it,
sold it through many editions at a handsome revenue. A close
comparison of Mrs. Eddy's Science and Health and Dr. Quimby's
Science of Man will startle any reader by their similitude."
(Churches of Today, Tomlinson, p. 110.)
The first edition of "Science and Health," appeared in 1875.
It has gone through many changes and editions. It was in 1876
that Mrs. Eddy organized the first Christian Science Association
with six pupils. Mrs. Eddy organized the first Christian Science
Church in 1879 with twenty six members and herself as the pastor.
This became the "Mother Church." All other churches organized are
branches of the Mother Church.
The first four editions of Mrs. Eddy's book "were in her own
crude style. In 1885 she received the services of James Henry
Wiggins, a retired Unitarian clergyman, whom she prevailed upon
to polish and even rewrite her own manuscript. It was he who gave
Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures some degree of
literary respectability. Through the years Mrs. Eddy continued to
revise in ways small or large her book, but without the services
of Mr. Wiggins, her 'Bible' (and she called it that) would hardly
have been taken seriously as it subsequently was." (Church
Origins, Bill Crews, page. 8.)
"Mrs. Eddy was married three times, once divorced and in many
ways her career was a checkered one. She reaped handsomely from
the revenue obtained from healings, lessons on healing, sale of
Christian Science spoons, books and other remunerative methods.
She died reported to be worth over three million dollars."
(Churches of Today, Tomlinson, pg. 110.)
Christian Science looks on the Science and Health with Key to
the Scriptures as being equal with the Bible.
II. ITS ORGANIZATION:
"In the mother church in Boston the structure is theocratic.
There is a self-perpetuating board of directors. In the 3,000 to
4,000 branch churches throughout the world the structure is
democratic. Each church is autonomous but all adhere to the
principles of Christian Science. Most Christian Scientist have
dual membership in the branch church and the mother church." (One
Way, Lilla Ross, pg. 29.)
III. SOME OF THE MAJOR DOCTRINES OF CHRISTIAN SCIENCE:
1. That the Bible is impure. (Science and Health, 139:20-22.)
2. That some parts of the Bible are lies. (S. and H., 524:25-27.)
3. That the Bible does not contain all revelation. (S. and H.,
107:3-5.)
4. They have many misconceptions concerning Jesus.
(1) That Christ is an ideal truth. (S. and H., 473:10-17.)
(2) That Christ did not actually die. (S. And H., 46:2-3.)
(3) That the blood of Christ does not cleanse the sinner
of sin. (S. and H., 25:6-9.)
5. That the Devil is a lie and an error. (S. and H., 584:17-19.)
6. That it is impossible for man to fall into sin. (S. and H.,
258:27-30; 428:22,23.)
7. That sin is an illusion. (S. and H., 283:8-11.)
8. That there is no such thing as sickness, disease or pain. (S.
and H. 285:8, 9, 11; 283:8-11; 393:29; 421:18.)
9. That growing old is an illusion. (S. and H., 245:30-31.)
10. That divorce is all right. (Miscellaneous Writings, 297:18-
25.)
11. Mrs. Eddy claims to have reinstated primitive Christianity
with its lost element of healing. (Church Manual, p. 17.)
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