Christian Science
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| − | + | '''Christian Science''' is a quasi-scientific and overtly religious belief system founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1866, based on the idea that Christianity is a verifiable set of beliefs. The central texts of Christian Science are the [[bible]] and the Christian Science textbook, ''Science & Health With Key to the Scriptures'' by Mary Baker Eddy. | |
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| + | "Christian Science" is also an oxymoron. Unfortunately, it's an oxymoron that has attracted a sizeable following. Contrary to the name, followers of "[[Christian]] Science" do not actually believe in [[science]] or even their own senses. There are also some who would doubt their religion is particularly Christian, but that is beyond our scope. | ||
Christian Scientists [[denialism|deny]] the reality of the physical world. They instead believe that the only reality is purely spiritual and that there is only one substance of which we are all composed (god). As a consequence, Christian Scientists deny the reality of pain and disease, believing them to be deceptive misperceptions of the pure spiritual nature of man and god. They contend any such misperception may be remedied through prayer and reflection on god's perfection and goodness. The official party line is that Christian Science does not try to convince people not to get medical attention, but does discourage mixing of Christian Science and reality-based treatments. The primary book for Christian Scientists is ''[[Science and Health (Christian Science)|Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures]]'', first published in 1875 by Mary Baker Eddy. It is no small irony that Eddy's history of hearing voices as a child suggests she may have been schizophrenic, a diagnosis medical science was incapable of in the 19th century and which Christian Science would have in any event rejected. | Christian Scientists [[denialism|deny]] the reality of the physical world. They instead believe that the only reality is purely spiritual and that there is only one substance of which we are all composed (god). As a consequence, Christian Scientists deny the reality of pain and disease, believing them to be deceptive misperceptions of the pure spiritual nature of man and god. They contend any such misperception may be remedied through prayer and reflection on god's perfection and goodness. The official party line is that Christian Science does not try to convince people not to get medical attention, but does discourage mixing of Christian Science and reality-based treatments. The primary book for Christian Scientists is ''[[Science and Health (Christian Science)|Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures]]'', first published in 1875 by Mary Baker Eddy. It is no small irony that Eddy's history of hearing voices as a child suggests she may have been schizophrenic, a diagnosis medical science was incapable of in the 19th century and which Christian Science would have in any event rejected. | ||
Revision as of 19:29, 4 April 2010
This topic is a pseudoscience, and is not accepted by the scientific community as a valid discipline.
Although it may use scientific terminology, it does not use scientific methodology.
Remember: just because it sounds right doesn't mean it's actually right.
Christian Science is a quasi-scientific and overtly religious belief system founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1866, based on the idea that Christianity is a verifiable set of beliefs. The central texts of Christian Science are the bible and the Christian Science textbook, Science & Health With Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy.
"Christian Science" is also an oxymoron. Unfortunately, it's an oxymoron that has attracted a sizeable following. Contrary to the name, followers of "Christian Science" do not actually believe in science or even their own senses. There are also some who would doubt their religion is particularly Christian, but that is beyond our scope.
Christian Scientists deny the reality of the physical world. They instead believe that the only reality is purely spiritual and that there is only one substance of which we are all composed (god). As a consequence, Christian Scientists deny the reality of pain and disease, believing them to be deceptive misperceptions of the pure spiritual nature of man and god. They contend any such misperception may be remedied through prayer and reflection on god's perfection and goodness. The official party line is that Christian Science does not try to convince people not to get medical attention, but does discourage mixing of Christian Science and reality-based treatments. The primary book for Christian Scientists is Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures, first published in 1875 by Mary Baker Eddy. It is no small irony that Eddy's history of hearing voices as a child suggests she may have been schizophrenic, a diagnosis medical science was incapable of in the 19th century and which Christian Science would have in any event rejected.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Christian Scientists occupied powerful positions in the federal government, including:
- Stansfield M. Turner - Director of Central Intelligence 1977 - 1981.
- William H. Webster - Director of the FBI 1978 - 1987; Director of Central Intelligence 1987 - 1991. Former Federal Judge.
- John Daniel Ehrlichman - Assistant to the President for Domestic Affairs under President Richard Nixon.
- H. R. Haldeman - White House Chief of Staff to President Richard Nixon.
- Egil "Bud" Krogh, Jr. - Head of the "Special Investigation Unit" in the Nixon White House.
Haldeman and Ehrlichman used their influence in the White House to push a bill through Congress which extended the copyright of Eddy's Science and Health... for an extra seventy-five years. The bill has since been declared unconstitutional.
The movement's most lasting contributions to humanity are its newspaper The Christian Science Monitor, which is usually considered quite excellent, and numerous air-conditioned "Christian Science Reading Rooms" tailor-made for a broke student to duck into for a few hours of quiet while traveling.