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How does Christian Science explain human suffering and disease?

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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. — Christian Science The Mother Church and reflecting pool, Christian Science Center, Boston.

Christian Science explains human suffering and disease as the result of a false sense of reality stemming from the limitations of human perception. According to the denomination's founder, Mary Baker Eddy, the material world is not a creation of God but a subjective state evolved by "mortal thought," which obscures the true spiritual reality of existence.12

Because Christian Science posits that God is infinite Spirit and that matter is ultimately unreal, it rejects the idea that God is responsible for suffering. Instead, disease and other mortal limitations are viewed as errors that can be overcome by gaining "the mind of Christ"—a deeper understanding of humanity’s true spiritual status.12

Consequently, the cure of disease through prayer is considered a fundamental element of the redemption process. By looking beyond material appearances to the "allness of Soul, Spirit, and the nothingness of matter," adherents seek to demonstrate that the limitations of the mortal state are not absolute. While the church encourages members to obey public health laws and utilize certain medical services, the core of its practice remains the spiritual healing of these perceived material illusions.12