1. Christian Science The Metaphysic of Divine Health

2. Historical Foundations Story of Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910) Early Life of Mary Ann Baker Early Life of Mary Ann Baker Congregationalist home Congregationalist home Lovely but frail – inordinate attention Lovely but frail – inordinate attention Marriage #1 – George Clover Marriage #1 – George Clover Happy / Brief / Consequential Happy / Brief / Consequential Marriage #2 – Daniel Patterson Marriage #2 – Daniel Patterson Unhappy / Adulterated / Terminated Unhappy / Adulterated / Terminated Quimby connection Quimby connection Healing? / Infatuation / Inspiration Healing? / Infatuation / Inspiration

3. Historical Developments Birth of Christian Science (1866-1875) “Founding Moment” of Christian Science “Founding Moment” of Christian Science Debated “Ice-slipping” resurrection account Debated “Ice-slipping” resurrection account Decade Long Interim Stage - Lynn, MA Era Decade Long Interim Stage - Lynn, MA Era Multiple personal struggles Multiple personal struggles Boarding House Period – Science Emerges Boarding House Period – Science Emerges Hiram Crafts / Richard Kennedy Hiram Crafts / Richard Kennedy Malicious Animal Magnetism teaching Malicious Animal Magnetism teaching Founding the Organization Founding the Organization Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures Christian Science Association Christian Science Association Marriage #3 – Asa Eddy Marriage #3 – Asa Eddy

4. Historical Developments Birth of Christian Science (1866-1875) Era of Lawsuits & Conspiracies Era of Lawsuits & Conspiracies Salem Witchcraft Trial of 1878 Salem Witchcraft Trial of 1878 Eddy vs. Arens Eddy vs. Arens To Boston Headquarters (1879) To Boston Headquarters (1879) Organized “The Church of Christ (Scientists)” Organized “The Church of Christ (Scientists)” Opened Massachusetts Metaphysics College Opened Massachusetts Metaphysics College Death of Asa Eddy (1882) Death of Asa Eddy (1882) Companion - Calvin Frye Companion - Calvin Frye

5. Historical Developments Birth of Christian Science (1866-1875) Increasing popularity, increasing conflicts Increasing popularity, increasing conflicts Mother Mary’s power grip / paranoia slip Mother Mary’s power grip / paranoia slip Competing Christian Science / Mind Cures Competing Christian Science / Mind Cures Organizational growth in Boston Organizational growth in Boston A personality cult? A personality cult? Mary as God’s authoritative mouthpiece Mary as God’s authoritative mouthpiece Mystical aura emerged Mystical aura emerged Final days and death of founder (1910) Final days and death of founder (1910) Recluse, secluded from public life / deteriorating health Recluse, secluded from public life / deteriorating health Debated death Debated death Transitional administration secured Transitional administration secured

6. Organization Mother Church in Boston – The “First” Church Mother Church in Boston – The “First” Church The Manual for the Mother Church The Manual for the Mother Church Considered as word of God Considered as word of God Established church governance / policies Established church governance / policies “Dual Impersonal Pastor” concept “Dual Impersonal Pastor” concept Publications Publications Christian Science Journal Christian Science Journal Christian Healing and Other Writings Christian Healing and Other Writings Christian Science Sentinel Christian Science Sentinel Christian Science Monitor Christian Science Monitor

7. Organization Current Expressions of Christian Science Current Expressions of Christian Science Christian Science Reading Rooms Christian Science Reading Rooms Christian Science Organizations (CSOs) Christian Science Organizations (CSOs) Midweek Testimony meetings Midweek Testimony meetings Board of Lecturers Board of Lecturers Growth and Decline Growth and Decline Rapid / Leveling / Decline / Stabilization Rapid / Leveling / Decline / Stabilization Compromise – the Knapp case in 1991 Compromise – the Knapp case in 1991

8. THE REVELATION: SCIENCE AND HEALTH WITH KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES Purpose / source of this incredible work Purpose / source of this incredible work Promote enlightened understanding Promote enlightened understanding Contested as plagiarism of Quimby Contested as plagiarism of Quimby The Science of Health The Science of Health Dualistic philosophical worldview Dualistic philosophical worldview Spirit is reality, material is illusory Spirit is reality, material is illusory Bodily conditions are outward expression of conscious / unconscious thoughts Bodily conditions are outward expression of conscious / unconscious thoughts Relation to Bible Relation to Bible Bible is subordinate to Science and Health Bible is subordinate to Science and Health Xtian Science penetrated beneath literal interpretations Xtian Science penetrated beneath literal interpretations

9. Doctrines Philosophical / Worldview Foundations Philosophical / Worldview Foundations Greek dualistic viewpoint Greek dualistic viewpoint There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter. All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in all. Spirit is immortal Truth; matter is mortal error. Spirit is the real and eternal; matter is the unreal and temporal. There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter. All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in all. Spirit is immortal Truth; matter is mortal error. Spirit is the real and eternal; matter is the unreal and temporal. All matter is opposed to spirit and/or mind All matter is opposed to spirit and/or mind All sickness, disease, mortality, considered acquiescence to wrong beliefs All sickness, disease, mortality, considered acquiescence to wrong beliefs

10. Doctrines Philosophical / Worldview Foundations Philosophical / Worldview Foundations Untenable logic of Xtian Science metaphysic Untenable logic of Xtian Science metaphysic Argument #1 Argument #2 God is All Mind is All God is Mind Matter is not Mind Therefore, All is Mind Therefore, Matter does not exist

11. Doctrines Philosophical / Worldview Foundations Philosophical / Worldview Foundations Untenable logic of Xtian Science metaphysic Untenable logic of Xtian Science metaphysic Faulty first premise locks them into subjective world of extreme idealism Faulty first premise locks them into subjective world of extreme idealism How can “I” experience disease, if in reality, there is no disease? What is experiencing it? How can “I” experience disease, if in reality, there is no disease? What is experiencing it? In practice, such metaphysic crumbles! In practice, such metaphysic crumbles! This “illusion of the mortal mind” treated as authentic being This “illusion of the mortal mind” treated as authentic being

12. Doctrines God God Denies the personality of God Denies the personality of God Denies Trinity of Godhead Denies Trinity of Godhead Pantheistic deity Pantheistic deity Holy Spirit Holy Spirit Defined as being Christian Science itself Defined as being Christian Science itself Jesus Christ Jesus Christ Distinguish Jesus as man, and Christ as idea Distinguish Jesus as man, and Christ as idea Did not die nor resurrect Did not die nor resurrect Virgin Birth Virgin Birth Offspring of Mary’s self-conscious communion with God Offspring of Mary’s self-conscious communion with God

13. Doctrines Humanity Humanity Man is not material being Man is not material being Man and God are identical spiritual nature Man and God are identical spiritual nature Sin Sin Part of the illusory material Part of the illusory material Evil is but an illusion, no real basis Evil is but an illusion, no real basis Atonement Atonement By Christ, but not through Cross By Christ, but not through Cross Includes redemption from sickness Includes redemption from sickness

14. Doctrines Salvation (New Birth) Salvation (New Birth) Process of surrendering to God, and joyful adoption of good Process of surrendering to God, and joyful adoption of good Liberation from the illusion of believing in matter and sinfulness Liberation from the illusion of believing in matter and sinfulness Hell Hell Sinner makes his own hell by doing evil Sinner makes his own hell by doing evil Prayer Prayer Spiritual awakening to Truth – that all is immaterial Spiritual awakening to Truth – that all is immaterial

15. Doctrines Healing Healing Restored the power of healing lost in church Restored the power of healing lost in church Church Church Structure wherein truth and love dwell Structure wherein truth and love dwell Anti-sacerdotal Anti-sacerdotal Eschatology – end times Eschatology – end times No significance or direction in human history – no transformation in future No significance or direction in human history – no transformation in future Heaven is simply “harmony” the reign of Spirit Heaven is simply “harmony” the reign of Spirit

16. Reaching the Christian Scientist Two broad approaches to divergent belief systems Two broad approaches to divergent belief systems Rational/logical Rational/logical Questioning the coherence of their metaphysical views Questioning the coherence of their metaphysical views Question their use of the Bible – what texts are inspired truth Question their use of the Bible – what texts are inspired truth Point out weaknesses of Science & Health as authoritative Point out weaknesses of Science & Health as authoritative Personal/spiritual Personal/spiritual Seek to understand how they experience existence Seek to understand how they experience existence Grounds for Peace / Moral certainty Grounds for Peace / Moral certainty What is their “Religion” providing them? What is their “Religion” providing them?