What is Christian Science?

Christian Science is a Christian denomination. It is a Bible-based religion grounded on the words and works of our master and way-shower, Christ Jesus. Christian Science takes the inspired word of the Holy Bible as our guide and guard to living a Christian life. Our sermon each Sunday in all Christian Science churches is anchored by the Bible, along with inspiration from Mary Baker Eddy’s work, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, explaining and corroborating the Scriptural texts in their spiritual import.

Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures, Our Companion Book

Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures is Mary Baker Eddy’s major work and is a guide to the spiritual import and inspiration found in the Holy Bible.  Science and Health is the definitive textbook on the system of healing that she discovered in 1866 and named Christian Science.  Mrs Eddy closes her preface of the book with these words, “In the spirit of Christ’s charity, — as one who “hopeth all things, endureth all things,” and is joyful to bear consolation to the sorrowing and healing to the sick, — she commits these pages to honest seekers for Truth.”

Christian Science is based on the words and works of Christ Jesus.

“The vital part, the heart and soul of Christian Science is Love.”  –Mary Baker Eddy

Christian Science is based on the words and works of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Bible is our guide.  Jesus said, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

 

What Mary Baker Eddy, discover and founder of Christian Science, says about her discovery…

“In the year 1866, I discovered the Christ Science or divine laws of Life, Truth, and Love, and named my discovery Christian Science.” Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures 107:1-3

“For three years after my discovery, I sought the solution of this problem of Mind-healing, searched the Scriptures and read little else, kept aloof from society, and devoted time and energies to discovering a positive rule. The search was sweet, calm, and buoyant with hope, not selfish nor depressing.  I knew the Principle of all harmonious Mind-action to be God, and that cures were produced in primitive Christian healing by holy, uplifting faith; but I must know the Science of this healing, and I won my way to absolute conclusions through divine revelation, reason, and demonstration.” Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures 109: 11-22

“The revelation consists of two parts:

  1. The discovery of this divine Science of Mind-healing, through a spiritual sense of the Scriptures and through the teachings of the Comforter, as promised by the Master.
  2. The proof, by present demonstration, that the so-called miracles of Jesus did not specially belong to a dispensation now ended, but that they illustrated an ever-operative divine Principle.  The operation of this Principle indicates the eternality of the scientific order and continuity of being.”  Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures 123: 19-29

“His (Jesus’) proof of Christianity was no form or system of religion and worship, but Christian Science, working out the harmony of Life and Love.” Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures 26:30-32 

Tenets of Christian Science

On April 12, 1879, Mary Baker Eddy set out “To organize a church designed to
commemorate the word and works of our Master, which should reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing.” The Tenets of the Mother Church were created as the guiding principles of Christian Science. These Tenets can also be found in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (page 497).

The Christian Science Publishing Society

The Christian Science Publishing Society located in Boston, oversees the publication of the weekly and monthly magazines, the Christian Science Sentinel, the Christian Science Journal, and the Herald of Christian Science which are available in different languages and formats worldwide. The Christian Science Monitor, which was founded by Mrs. Eddy in 1908, was established as a daily newspaper to “injure no man, but to bless all mankind.” Today, it includes a website (CSMonitor.com), a Daily News digital briefing, and a weekly magazine.

Who is Mary Baker Eddy?

Mary Baker Eddy is the discoverer and founder of Christian Science. She defines
Christian Science “As the law of God, the law of good, interpreting and demonstrating the divine Principle and rule of universal harmony.” Mary Baker Eddy was an extraordinary woman who was healed of a life-threatening illness in 1866 by solely turning to the Bible and the healing works of Jesus. In her desire to
understand how Jesus healed others, she spent the next few years of her life studying the Bible and laws of God that would serve as the foundation for her teaching and the practice of Christian Science.

You can learn more about Mary Baker Eddy’s life, founding of her church, books that
she has written, her creation of The Christian Science Monitor , and the many other
progressive steps that she achieved as a woman in the late 1800s.

The Mother Church

The First Church of Christ, Scientist located in Boston, Massachusetts, was founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1879. It is called the Mother Church. It was formed “To organize a church designed to commemorate the word and works of our Master, which should reinstate primitive
Christianity and its lost element of healing.” The Mother Church conducts Wednesday meetings and Sunday Services in the same format as the locally organized branch Churches of Christ, Scientist such as this one in Newport Beach.