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Christian Science (The Church of Christ, Scientist)

The Christian Protestant religion of Christian Science has an estimated 100,000 to 400,000 followers or Christian Scientists. Christian Science was founded by Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910) in Lynn (a suburb of Boston), Massachusetts (U.S.A.) in 1879. Mrs. Eddy had poor health on many occasions throughout her life and was greatly influenced by a healer named Phineas P. Quimby (1802-1866), who was skilled in hypnotism, animal magnetism and other powers of the mind.

Mrs. Eddy discovered that healing comes from the "Divine Mind, God". Later, Mrs. Eddy wrote her main book titled Science and Health describing her scientific system of healing based on spiritual laws. This book was later re-titled as Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures and published in 1875.

Then, Mrs. Eddy founded the Church of Christ, Scientist in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1879, Massachusetts Metaphysical College in 1881, National Christian Scientist Association in 1886 and the Christian Science Monitor daily newspaper in 1908.

Although the Church of Christ, Scientist membership peaked in the 1950's, the Church still has about 2,200 branch congregations in about 70 countries. The Church also operates well-publicized Christian Science Reading Rooms where the public is invited to read the Bible and literature published by the Church's Christian Science Publishing Society.

Together with the Holy Bible, Mary Baker Eddy's Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures form the foundation scriptures of Christian Science. They are literally considered as the pastor of the Church of Christ, Scientist. There are no ordained human ministers. (In a way, this is similar to the use of the SIRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB JI scriptures as the ONLY LIVING GURU in the religion Sikhism.)

Besides the daily Monitor, there are several other periodicals including the Christian Science Quarterly containing study lessons, Christian Science Sentinel weekly and Christian Science Journal monthly magazines.

Christian Science does not have a creed. However, based on Mrs. Eddy Christian upbringing, Christian Science acknowledges the Trinity of God the Father, his son Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost (or Holy Spirit).

Christian Science emphasizes prayer and faith for healing. Christian Science is currently advertised as a "healing and educational system".

Christian Science has central headquarters that are located in Boston, Massachusetts. Bylaws governing the Christian Science movement are written in the Manual of The Mother Church, which was first published in 1895 and has not been revised or updated since Mary Baker Eddy's death. However, local Christian Science congregations are self-governed with a democratic system of government.

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