Dismissing the Dismissive

Replace "TrueBeliever™" with "properly practicing Christian Science." Change up some of the theology so it is a little more allegorical and less literal. Add in the lines "turn to the books" and "pray harder" and this parallels what many former Christian Scientists deal with as well.

look at all my trials & tribulations, sinking in a gentle pool of wine

(1) It surprises some of my fellow former-Christian Scientists that while I have left the Mother Church, and no longer follow (or believe) in the teachings of Ms. Eddy, I continue to refrain from imbibing alcohol. I don't drink wine, beer, or cocktails. I don't enjoy vodka, tequila, or spirits. I've had a few sips … Continue reading look at all my trials & tribulations, sinking in a gentle pool of wine

Anti-human Theology: Learning to Hate Yourself

Instead of learning to hate yourself, in Christian Science we are taught God is Love. We are “God’s Perfect Children” and we simply need to realize that. Any sickness, disease or “bad” things that happen to us are our failure to fully recognize that we are God’s Perfect Children – we need to realign our thoughts with God. Allowing Error/Mortal Mind/Malicious Animal Magnetism (all of which are unreal, because God created everything and behold it is Very Good) to enter our thought and cloud our judgment (and cause the problems that need to be “healed”). We must continue to vigilantly stand porter at the door of thought and be on guard against any un-god-like ideas. The end result is similar to that described by Godless in Dixie — there is quite a bit of self-loathing because people are not able to “heal themselves” by simply “aligning their thoughts with God.”

Although Christian Science starts with somewhat prohuman theology — there is no “fall” we are perfect, but trapped in the Adam Dream, it quickly becomes antihuman because the Adam Dream is one so few Christian Scientists ever manage to emerge from — Ms. Eddy included.

godlessindixie's avatargodless in dixie

billboard I have a confession to make.  I still struggle with a deep self-hatred which I inherited from my Christian upbringing.  It’s been nearly five years now since I “broke up with Jesus” and yet after all this time I still have this unhealthy undercurrent pulling me down, making me think less of myself than I should.  It most commonly rears its ugly head when I am under a great deal of stress.  I’m sure many could confirm that it’s when you are tired and your reserves are depleted that these things tend to come back to haunt you.  I hear some of this comes with age, too.  The older you get, the more you just get tired, and the longer you have to accumulate charges against yourself.  Some of that’s probably unavoidable, I guess, and is just a part of life.  It also doesn’t help me personally that I grew up…

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the Unattainable perfect and clear comprehension of the living Spirit

For my Christian Science readers, I'm going to remind you of a harsh fact: Christian Scientsts die, just like everybody else. No where does Ms. Eddy claim that Christian Science will cause the MATERIAL BODY to live forever, it is Spiritual Man that is immortal. Expressing shock and grief at someone's passing is natural. What is … Continue reading the Unattainable perfect and clear comprehension of the living Spirit

Church of Christ, Scientist (aka Christian Science)

I love when non-CS go to a CS service and share their views, it is always refreshing to get a new perspective and to hear what stands out as “odd” to them.

mhn125's avatarSteeple Stretch

photo 3-2 First Church of Christ, Scientist

Sunday #14 – Church of Christ, Scientist, 501 N. Alamo, San Antonio, TX

After last week’s “toe dip” into Scientology, I thought I’d check out one of the other religions often mistaken for Scientology – Christian Science. The church is one of several on the decline in America’s religious landscape. However, you might be surprised to learn that some pretty well known people were raised in the Christian Science faith: Doris Day, Robin Williams, Marilyn Monroe, Henry Fonda, Andy Rooney, Bette Davis, Gene Autrey, Carol Channing, Ginger Rogers, Val Kilmer, Joan Crawford, Elizabeth Taylor, Marlon Brando, and on and on.

Though the church doesn’t publish its membership numbers, I’ve read estimates of membership in the 100,00 to 500,000-range worldwide. However, many feel the number is closer to the lower level. Why is this? I can only guess its due to its unwillingness of the…

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• View from the Pew: Dispatches of a Church-going Atheist–Christian Science

An atheist live-tweets the Sunday Service based on the Weekly Bible Lesson “Reality.” He lucked out and got a congregation that could sing and had a good accompanist, I speak from experience when I say not everyone is so lucky.

gschwanke's avatarDIYThinking

Third in an ongoing series of dispatches from the pew (Week 1–Mormon Church, Week 2–Jehovah’s Witnesses).

Part 1 is a catalog of my live tweets from a Christian Science sermon titled “Reality”.

Part 2 details my impressions of a brief conversation with two Scientists (!) about the church’s finances and evidence for its claims.

Part 1

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