Christian Science is a misnomer for this group. This religion is neither Christian nor Science. But, it does fit well with the other Religious and Mind Science groups, which peddle their false doctrines and books.
The Mother Church, known as the First Church of Christ, Scientist, is in Boston, Massachusetts. The group was formally named the Church of Christ, Science, and was incorporated in 1879 by Mary Baker Eddy. The church's official website tells us that membership in the Christian Science Church is not a prerequisite to be a practitioner. The group, according to the website, has no ordained clergy. The church is ruled by a self-perpetuating , five-member board of directors, who oversee the basically democratic framework of the branch churches.
Attending a Christian Science service shows one immediately the group's departure from traditional Christian practices. Lay leaders and full-time practitioners administer the church's healing techniques. No ordinances are recognized, and the service is ended with a reading of the Lord's Prayer, the verses interspersed with Mrs. Eddy's "false" interpretations. Membership is actually restricted to only those who sever relationship s with any other church or religious organization. Science and Health is read along with the Bible for quotations only, giving folks the impression that without Mary baker Eddy's "false" interpretations of scriptures Bible reading is useless.
Christians Scientists also publish the Christian Science Monitor, their daily newspaper with a circulation of over 100,000. The paper is a highly respected journalistic piece with several Pulitzer prizes to its credit. The church also has radio and television programs.
Many folks are favorably disposed toward Christian Science in spite of its bad publicity regarding cases when medical treatment is withheld. Some have heard great reports of healing from church members, while others give note to the conservative, well-educated, upper socioeconomic types who attend Christian Science meetings. These folks seem well-intentioned, and few would condemn thier effective ministry to those plagued with emotional ills and psychosomatic afflictions. However, the evaluation of this religion is to be based on the source of its authority and power, as well as the biblical validity of its views, are essential criteria to judge its worth.The church, according to its own website, features some 2,000 churches and reading rooms in 80 countries. Of those, according to another website, 1,600 of these churches are in the United States alone. The church's membership levelled off in the 1950s and started a decline. Since the church does not publish its membership statistics only good guesses are available for membership. Some estimates the church's membership at 400,000, while others say 150,000 or even as low as 100,000 members. In 1989, the number of Christian Science practitioners had dropped from about 12,000 in the 1950s to about 3,000. Membership in Third World countries has amazingly increased.
Mrs. Eddy had prophesied that "in fifty years or less, Christian Science will be the dominant religious belief of the world." Not really. Lot's of folks have figured out what the truth is while others are still mired in ignorance of the nature of the one true God which was shown in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Information for the next three pages comes from Larson's New Book of Cults, by Bob Larson, 1989, published by Tyndale House Publisherss; Texe Marrs Book of New Age Cults & Religions, 1990, published by Living Truth Publishers; and the Encyclopedia Britannica, 1968, published by Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.
