Why did Mary Baker Eddy believe spiritual healing was important to Christianity?

Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science, viewed spiritual healing as a fundamental component of the Christian faith and her own personal mission. Her emphasis on this practice was rooted in a reevaluation of New Testament healing stories, which she interpreted as proof that the limitations of the mortal state can be overcome by gaining the mind of Christ.12

For Eddy, spiritual healing was not merely an act of physical restoration but a necessary element in the process of redemption. She argued that the materialist view of the universe—which attributes life and mind to matter—is a fallacy that leads to suffering. By looking beyond material appearances to a spiritual reality, Christian Scientists believe they can demonstrate the sovereignty of God over sin and disease. Consequently, in Christian Science, the cure of disease through prayer is considered a practical, demonstrable fact and a vital part of one's spiritual journey toward understanding humanity's true status as children of God.2