Christian Science

[scoobysoo]

Hi. I was out and about at the weekend, and noticed a building called The First Church of Christian Science. Is this a science based religion? I'm perplexed!

[Clanad]

Not really... It was begun by Mary Baker Eddy in 1879. She, although being raised a conventional Christian, experienced the traumatic death of her first husband and her own chronic ill health, which led her to investigate hypnosis, and occult practices of spiritualism and clairvoyance. During this period she became heavily influenced by P. P. Quimby, and, after his death, developed a "psychic dependence" on Quimby, drawing on his spiritual presence, claiming even visitations by his apparition. The early years saw growth, but there seemed to always be the specter of scandal in the background. This continued to modern times, including financial scandals.(Source: The Watchman Expositor). The church publishes the Christian Science Monitor, a large newspaper. You may remember, the latest young lady held as a hostage in Iraq and finally being released, was a reporter for the paper...