Questions about Christian Science

Frequently Asked Questions about Christian Science

Q. Who was Mary Baker
A. Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910) is the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, and author of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, a perennial best-selling book on healing. She was raised in New Hampshire by parents who were devout Congregationalists. The Bible was central to her religious and educational upbringing.
Her early adult life included more than its share of serious personal tragedies and poor health. Over the next twenty years chronic illness led her to explore many curative methods. None resulted in permanent healing until her discovery of Christian Science.
Q. How did she discover Christian Science?
A. In 1866 she was severely injured in a fall, and turned to the Bible as she had been accustomed to doing. All she had pondered in the past came strongly and clearly to her as she read an account of one of Jesus' healings. She was immediately healed. Convinced that God had healed her, she spent the next several years searching the Scriptures to understand the principle behind her healing. She named her discovery Christian Science and explained it in 1875 when she first wrote Science and Health.

Q. What is Christian Science
A. Christian Science is based on the words and works of Christ Jesus, and draws its authority from the Bible. Its teachings are set forth in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. Although a distinctive part of Christian Science is the healing of disease by spiritual means alone, its higher purpose is universal salvation from every phase of evil - including sin and death (see Matthew 10:8).
Q. Is Christian Science truly Christian?
A.Yes. Its foundation is the teaching and example of Jesus. Christian Scientists take Christ Jesus' promise seriously, that Christians should heal the sick as well as the sinning, in his name.
Q. What are your church services like?
A.The services include congregational singing, a vocal solo, organ or piano music, silent and collective prayer, the audible praying of the Lord's Prayer, Scriptural reading, and a collection. There is also a meeting on Wednesdays that includes readings from the Bible and Science and Health, as well as testimonies of healing from the congregation.
The Sunday services are conducted by lay Readers. The two Readers read a Lesson-Sermon consisting of passages from the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. All services are open to the public.
Q. What is a Christian Science Reading Room?
A. The Reading Room is a combination bookstore, library, and study room, where the public has free access to books and periodicals published or sold by The Christian Science Publishing Society, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper,The Christian Science Monitor, and all of the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, including Science and Health. A Reading Room also maintains a wide selection of Bibles and Bible study books. It is staffed by members of the local Christian Science church who can help those interested learn more about the Bible and Christian Science.
Q. What is a Christian Science practitioner?
A. This is a Christian Scientist who devotes full time to the ministry of Christian healing. To be a practitioner requires study, consecrated prayer, and a demonstrated ability to apply spiritual understanding to the overcoming of human ills and discords. Preparation includes a course of study with an authorized teacher of Christian Science and a record of successful healing of others.

If you have any further questions, Please send an E-mail to the Christian Science church here in Wellington
or link through to The Mother Church for more FAQ's and answers.