Christian Science

Introduction
History, organization, and development
Beliefs and practices
Significance

References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images

The Mother Church at the Christian Science Center in Boston stands beside a large reflecting pool, with its domed roof and ornate facade visible under a partly cloudy sky.

At a Glance

Christian Science summary

Related Questions

Are Christian Scientists required by their church to use spiritual healing instead of medical care?
How are Christian Science practitioners listed for people seeking help?
How did Christian Science grow during Mary Baker Eddy’s years in Boston?
How did Christian Science influence later interest in spiritual healing among Protestant churches?
How did Darwinism and biblical criticism influence the rise of Christian Science?
How did Mary Baker Eddy’s Congregationalist upbringing influence her religious ideas?
How does Christian Science describe the relationship between God and human beings?
How does Christian Science differ from traditional Christianity in its understanding of Jesus?
How does Christian Science encourage members to follow public health laws?
How does Christian Science explain human suffering and disease?
How does Christian Science explain the material world?
How does Christian Science interpret Jesus’ healings?
How does Christian Science understand sin and redemption?
How does Christian Science view the authority of the Bible?
How does prayer relate to healing in Christian Science?
How does the Christian Science church address broken bones and childbirth?
How is the Bible lesson-sermon used in daily Christian Science study?
How is the Christian Science Mother Church governed?
In how many countries did Christian Science claim congregations in the early 21st century?
What happened to Mary Baker Eddy in 1866 that changed the direction of her life?
What happens at Christian Science Wednesday evening meetings?
What is a Christian Science nurse?
What is a Christian Science practitioner?
What is the Bible lesson-sermon in Christian Science?
What role do Christian Science sanatoriums serve?
What was the Massachusetts Metaphysical College?
What was the Next Friends Suit involving Mary Baker Eddy?
When did Mary Baker Eddy found the Church of Christ, Scientist?
When do Christian Scientists use dentists or optometrists?
When was the Mother Church reorganized in Boston?
Where was the Church of Christ, Scientist founded?
Which book contains the definitive teachings of Christian Science?
Which events in the life of Jesus are central to Christian Science beliefs?
Who founded Christian Science?
Who was Phineas Parkhurst Quimby?
Why are patience and humility important in Christian Science teachings?
Why did Mary Baker Eddy add “with Key to the Scriptures” to the title Science and Health?
Why did Mary Baker Eddy become interested in alternative healing methods?
Why did Mary Baker Eddy establish The Christian Science Monitor?
Why did Mary Baker Eddy reject the belief that God created matter?
Why does Christian Science refer to the Bible and Science and Health as its dual pastor?
Why is Christian Science generally considered non-Trinitarian?
Why is spiritual healing important in Christian Science?
What is the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS)?
Who is Warren Jeffs, and what happened to him?
Why does the FLDS practice polygamy?
What makes the FLDS different from other fundamentalist Mormon groups?
Who are the Jehovah’s Witnesses?
Why do Jehovah’s Witnesses refuse blood transfusions?
What do Jehovah’s Witnesses believe?
How do Jehovah’s Witnesses carry out evangelism?
How are Jehovah’s Witnesses different from other types of Christianity?
What is the Church of Pakistan?

Philosophy & Religion Spirituality

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External Websites

NPR - New Direction for Christian Science?
Utah History Encyclopedia - Christian Science in Utah
Mary Baker Eddy Library - The history of Christian Science in Germany: 1881 to 1896
Harvard Divinity School - Religion and Public Life - Christian Scientists in the Courts
ABC listen - Sunday Nights - The Goodlife and Christian Science
DigitalCommons at CalPoly - 'Standing Porter at the Door of Thought': The Social Order of the Christian Science Church (PDF)
Encyclopedia of Milwaukee - Christian Scientists
University of Dayton - eCommons - Christian Science, Rational Choice, and Alternative World Views (PDF)
Hartford Institute for Religion Research - Encyclopedia of Religion and Society - Christian Science
Official Site of the Christian Science
Learn Religion - Christian Science Church Beliefs and Practices
World Religions and Spirituality Project - WomenÂ’s Roles in The Church of Christ, Scientist (Christian Science)
Case Western Reserve University - Encyclopedia of Cleveland History - Christian Scientists

Britannica Websites

Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

Christian Science - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
Christian Science - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Christian Science

religious denomination

Also known as: Church of Christ, Scientist

Written by

Stephen Gottschalk

Associate Professor of History, U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, 1972–75. Author of The Emergence of Christian Science in American Religious Life.

Stephen GottschalkAll

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Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....

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History

Christian Science, religious denomination founded in the United States in 1879 by Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910), author of the book that contains the definitive statement of its teaching, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (1875). It is widely known for its highly controversial practice of spiritual healing. Christian Science emerged in late 19th-century America, when Darwinism, biblical criticism, and other secularizing influences weakened the supernaturalist structure of Protestant orthodoxy. Troubled Christians, divided between...

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