What events in Mary Baker Eddy’s early life shaped her interest in religion and suffering?

Mary Baker Eddy’s interest in religion and the problem of suffering was deeply rooted in a series of personal tragedies and chronic health struggles that defined her early life. Raised by devout Congregationalists, she was immersed in Bible study, yet she grew to reject the "relentless theology" of predestinarian Calvinism practiced by her father.12

Her preoccupation with human misery was fueled by profound losses:
* Bereavement: She lost a favorite brother at age 20, became a widow at 22, and in 1849, suffered the deaths of both her mother and her fiancé within three weeks.1
* Family Separation: In 1856, she was forced into a long-term separation from her only child, whom she would not see again for nearly 25 years.1
* Chronic Illness: Throughout her life, she battled persistent ill health, which led her to experiment with various alternative healing methods, including homeopathy and the techniques of Phineas Parkhurst Quimby.12

These experiences compelled her to reconcile the existence of a loving God with the reality of pain, ultimately driving her search for the spiritual meaning of New Testament healing.12