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Why is spiritual healing important in Christian Science?

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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.

In Christian Science, spiritual healing is considered a necessary element in the process of redemption and a fundamental practice of the faith. Its importance is rooted in the belief that the material world and human suffering are the result of inadequate perception, rather than God’s will.12

For Christian Scientists, the healing works of Jesus Christ serve as proof that the limitations of the mortal state can be overcome by gaining the mind of Christ—an understanding of humanity’s true spiritual status. By looking beyond material appearances to a spiritual reality, adherents seek to demonstrate that life, mind, and will originate from Spirit rather than matter.12

Founder Mary Baker Eddy viewed healing through the Spirit as her special mission, teaching that the cure of disease through prayer is a demonstrable fact of this spiritual reality. Consequently, the church emphasizes systematic study and prayer as essential for meeting the challenges of Christian healing, with members often sharing experiences of such healings during services.13