What is Christian Science?

Christian Science is a religion based entirely on the Bible and particularly on the teachings of Jesus, the Galilean prophet.  Jesus taught his followers the nature of man and his relationship with God, healing many who were sick.

In 1866, after many years of Bible study and prayer, Mrs Mary Baker Eddy discovered how Jesus healed the sick and how he performed the many other apparently 'impossible' wonders or 'miracles'.  This discovery she named Christian Science. Mrs Eddy found that Jesus' command to his followers "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils:... is still as relevant today and that it can be put into practice, consistently and reliably, as it was for the first 300 years of the Christian era.

Later she published her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, which sets forth the teachings of Christian Science.  Mrs Eddy states in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (page 123):

"Christian Science differs from material science, but not on that account is it less scientific.  On the contrary, Christian Science is pre-eminently scientific, being based on Truth, the Principle of all science.  Physical science (so-called) is human knowledge, - a law of mortal mind, a blind belief, a Samson shorn of his strength."

On page 114 she also states:

"Christian Science explains all cause and effect as mental, not physical.  It lifts the veil of mystery from Soul and body.  It shows the scientific relation of man to God, disentangles the interlaced ambiguities of being, and sets free the imprisoned thought."

In 1887, Mrs Eddy founded the original Christian Science church - The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts.   Branch churches are located throughout the world.

Tenets of Christian Science

The following are the Tenets Church, known as the Tenets of Christian Science, as set out in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.  Members of The Mother Church and Branch Churches are required to subscribe to them:

1. As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life.
2. We acknowledge and adore one supreme and infinite God.  We acknowledge His Son, one Christ;  the Holy Ghost or divine Comforter; and man in God's image and likeness.
3. We acknowledge God's forgiveness of sin in the destruction of sin and the spiritual understanding that casts out evil as unreal.  But the belief in sin is punished so long as the belief lasts.
4. We acknowledge Jesus' atonement as the evidence of divine, efficacious Love, unfolding man's unity with God through Christ Jesus the Way-shower;  and we acknowledge that man is saved through Christ, through Truth, Life, and Love as demonstrated by the Galilean Prophet in healing the sick and overcoming sin and death.
5. We acknowledge that the crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection served to uplift faith to understand eternal Life, even the allness of Soul, Spirit, and the nothingness of matter.
6. And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure.