I Am a Student of Christian Science

Are you a Christian Scientist?

When I am asked this question, more often than not, I answer, "I practice Christian Science." Christian Science is a practice, a system of divine healing that can be applied to everyday life. Basically, to pigeonhole myself as a Christian Scientist can be misleading. For example, I know a few people who categorize themselves as farmers, but really are practicing golf, while their hired managers practice the farming.

Christian Science, as defined by Mary Baker Eddy, is "The law of God, the law of good, interpreting and demonstrating the divine Principle and rule of universal harmony." (Rudimental Divine Science, Mary Baker Eddy) The healing law of good has existed forever; it is not a mystery when scientifically analyzed.

On the other hand, Christian Science is a mystery when it is defined as a church organization, a dogma, or a human way of life. But, this wandering around in definitions doesn't change the facts. Christian Science, when juxtaposed with Eddy's terminology, is a "system of Mind-healing." (Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy, Trade Edition)

Christian Science is not a practice of rituals or a system of beliefs. There are metaphysical rules to follow in Mind-healing. I have found that when I follow the spiritual rules, I can experience both emotional and physical improvement.

Problem is, it feels counterintuitive to follow spiritual rules. The human mind can only grasp so much, and it is easily confused by abstract ideas. However, there is an unseen force that compels human beings to understand, to break barriers, and courageously defeat anything that goes against God, good. Consequently, spirituality is pursued and those very spiritual rules are glimpsed and recognized as beneficial.

The propaganda surrounding Christian Science, or any religion for that matter, needs to be dismissed in order to embrace the inspiration that correctly interprets the spiritual rules taught. Religion should not morph into a series of human rules that override spiritual rules. It is important to remember that spiritual rules are impartial, discoverable to everyone, just as we all are exposed to the law of gravity.

So as not to get too hung up on the word Christian, Eddy also used the terms spiritual Science, Mind-science, divine Science, or the Science of Spirit, while explaining this "pathological system of Christianity." (ibid)

Of course, there is than the temptation to get hung up on the word Science. However, if a scientist of physics can discover how a law of matter works by means of using the scientific method, why can't a scientist of divine Mind discover how the law of God heals by means of using the scientific method? Therefore, Eddy, theorized, experimented, and concluded. "God is Mind, and God is infinite; hence all is Mind. On this statement rests the Science of being, and the Principle of this Science is divine, demonstrating harmony and immortality." (Ibid)

The study of the law of God is not only healing, but also interesting and uniting. I am better able to see similarities, instead of differences, between religions. The student's knowledge of divine Being is mind-opening, however, "Their knowledge of Mind-healing may be right theoretically, but the moral and spiritual status of thought must be right also." (Miscellaneous Writings, Things to be Thought of)

As a student of divine Science, I continue to apply the law of God, revealing the one Cause and effect that includes Christlike healing. People really can't be pigeonholed as if we are separate from one another or separate from God and God's rule of natural healing. Our status is oneness. Mind is one and infinite Mind includes us, a principle worthy of study and practice.

Cheryl Petersen advocates spiritual thought before action. Her website http://www.HealingScienceToday.com offers "21st Century Science and Health," an eBook that explains a practical metaphysical approach to everyday human situations.

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Employing the Framework of Christian Science

People say I'm not your typical Christian Scientist.

I started practicing Christian Science in college, and 25 years later, I revised and updated the book most commonly linked to Christian Science, Science and Health, written by 19th century icon, Mary Baker Eddy. I am not dedicated to church rituals, and I don't avoid doctors--typical stereotypes associated with the faith. However, being typical or atypical doesn't make me any more or less spiritual than my peers.

Religion serves as a framework for understanding and discovery, and the faith of Christian Science, a.k.a. divine Science, has proven itself very useful to me. I can attend Churches of Christ, Scientists, but I also can attend church services of other faiths and filter what I see and hear through my faith. My faith is a foundation, whereas, religions and religious organizations are only tools that twist and turn and loosen consciousness until metaphysical laws are discovered as supreme to physical laws (yes, religion can twist the wrong way too, but that is another article).

Christian Science is generally considered a fad church or New Age religion, first originating in the 19th century by religious reformer Mary Baker Eddy, however, there is far more to this faith than most people realize. Christian Science is not a church, but the study and witnessing of spiritual manifestation. Its teachings impress upon me the ability to be fully accountable for my life and to cultivate spiritual understanding.

As a tradition, Christian Science worships one Spirit, God. Person is likened to be the image of divine Spirit. A mortal humanlike God does not resonate with the faith of Christian Science.

Divine Science acknowledges God as infinite Love and they are allied to the teachings of the prophets and Christ Jesus. Answers to life's questions are found, not in the materialist view, but in the spiritual view of Principe, God, interpreting well-being and purpose to the universe and humanity.

Despite the systematic teachings in texts, I've come to realize the knowledge of spiritual Being and its accompanying power can be traced through all time and many faiths. History echoes with the annals of people who have come face-to-face with glimpses of spirituality and who have experienced transforming spiritual power and peace.

I've noticed that my framework of Christian Science coincides with the intent not to extend mortality and not to be exclusive of humanity, but to become aware of immortality and unity. For example, when I landed in a hospital emergency room after a severe accident and was told my bleeding liver was fatal, and that they were preparing for an operation to stop the bleeding, I referred to my understanding of God as my life. Nothing can kill life.

I felt the affirmation of Life operating in my consciousness, painlessly sealing my conviction with gratitude and humility. The surgeon, or rather the monitors, confirmed that I was stabilizing and surgery became less imminent. The surgeon continued watching the monitors, and later agreed the liver surgery was unnecessary.

The surgeon and I had faith in healing. We met at the spiritual level of faith. Although our understandings differed (and the surgeon's religion (so to speak) is physiological science, and mine is divine Science) we both witnessed healing, not only of the liver, but also of 2nd degree burns on half of my face.

Faith and spirituality are not confined to religious teachings, nor are they restricted to set religious habits. However, religion, when not overrated or underrated, can be helpful. The tenets of divine Science are basic and straightforward and can be explored extensively. However, a shred of divine Science has been potent enough to transform human life, just as a shred of habanera pepper is potent enough to give a jolt to chili.

Cheryl Petersen advocates spiritual thought before action. Her website http://www.HealingScienceToday.com offers "21st Century Science and Health," an eBook that explains a practical metaphysical approach to everyday human situations.

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Doctors and Christian Science

Thought, saturated in opinions, loses direction and wanders down a dead end road. Opinionated attitudes automatically dismiss, or withdraw from, advancing good ideas. However, thought committed to a spiritual truth will not only make progressive decisions, but also act on them. Christian Science-a subject inordinately attached to opinions debating whether or not a person can go to a doctor-is given an expanded view in this article. Spiritual truths are presented, which ultimately predominate over opinions. Deep-seated opinions are misleading, distracting, and tiresome. Spiritual truths allow people to make practical, informed, and better conclusions concerning their world, their well-being, and faith.

Christian Science is a metaphysical science. It does not dictate a certain human lifestyle. It does not prescribe particular opinions or behaviors. And, no matter how habituated humans are to believe otherwise, Christian Science does not tell a person whether or not to go to a doctor. Christian Science involves spiritual growth: an ever-increasing understanding of God; advancement in a Christ-like attitude; progress in the practice of self-control, healing, philanthropy, and honesty. Spiritual growth leads people, including doctors, to make better decisions regarding health care.

A major point in Christian Science is to work out our deliverance from problems with God, Spirit. Working out our salvation with Truth is an on-going process, and Christian Science does not assume we human beings can automatically be so spiritual that we do not need temporal help. It also does not maintain a power other than God, to create a fear of temporal assistance. To understand our way out of the flesh is a requirement. It requires patience, persistence, and respect. Any thinking that Christian Science must, or can, insist on healing with our without doctors, is warped by human opinions.

Sadly, human opinions constantly demand attention, deterring us from working out our salvation with God, Truth. Whether the opinions are vulnerable or arrogant, they are usually immoderate, uninformed, and ridiculous. The fact is, less intrusive and more permanent healing is possible, undoubtedly supported by Christian Science, but it takes increased spirituality, understanding, honesty, unity, and effort.

There is also the obstacle of personal experience to swerve people off the point of spirituality. Our human experiences, sometimes good or sometimes bad, are not reliable reference points for making conclusions. Human beings have too little data in their brain to fully understand anything outside of their private memory chip. An opinion (or a chemical drug), that is meaningful for one person may be detrimental to another person. However, no matter what our career or profession, Christian Science acknowledges God-acknowledges Christ-spirit embracing and inspiring human consciousness in a way that is best for each individual-as willing and able to produce genuine improvement.

I can give an almost comic example of how human experience misses the point.

A couple of months ago, my husband and I moved into a rental house. It basically needed major cleaning, so we started scrubbing, scouring, and mowing down overgrown weeds. I do not remember why, but my husband mentioned that there were 2 dishes on the roof. I rolled my eyes; nothing was surprising me anymore at this rental house. But, reading my mind, my husband said, "Cheryl, Satellite dishes, for TV." We laughed. I was thinking dinner plates. A satellite dish did not even occur to me because we haven't had TV reception for over 20 years. TV is a small part of my experience. My definition of a "dish" is a dinner plate.

If the definition of Christian Science comes across as a group of people who do not go to doctors, it is not the correct definition, not the point. It is an opinion, undocumented speculation. Spotlighting opinions relating to whether or not someone can or should go to a doctor distorts the milieu and misses the purpose of Christian Science.

The two words, Christian Science, are only a human term for the spiritual truth of a law of good, interpreting harmony, and promoting goodness in consciousness, thereby producing goodness in humanity, including doctors!

The force of Christian Science can no longer be hijacked by misinterpretation. It cannot be in the clutches of people who divert and bewilder with hard-core or ignorant opinions. Christian Science does not belong to a church and cannot be limited to pointless debate.

Divine Science, another term for Christian Science, is universal, timeless, metaphysical, impartial. It is a filter-filtering out opinions-through which human beings can look to find the best answer for the question at hand. Divine Science epitomizes spiritual truths. Answers based on spiritual truth are valuable, available to all people. Every individual is unbrokenly connected to God, to spiritual understanding, and progressive goodness.

Cheryl Petersen revised a textbook on Christian Science written in the 19th century by Mary Baker Eddy. Her book, 21st Century Science and Health, the first English updated revision is found online at http://www.HealingScienceToday.com

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Definition of Christian Science

His weeping and trembling were honest, and to be expected. The man was not sniveling. He made great effort not to let the sobs become uncontrollable. His effort failed. Flowing from the depth of crushing stress and sorrow, the crying would not stop. Barely audible, he asked, "Kleenex please." Three facial tissues and a bandanna quickly appeared. "Thank you," the man said. And he meant it. After wiping his eyes and nose, feeling the surrounding encouragement, the sobbing eventually eased. The man's heart calmed.

Words convey ideas and provide a venue for communication. Words, though, can have different meanings to different people. But, when push comes to shove, the idea of, "something to wipe my face and nose with," is communicated and understood. In the fictitious account given above, the people's minds did not get barbed on the word Kleenex, no matter how well branded the trademark is. Words were used as a tool. Tissues and a bandanna were offered. More importantly, the ideas of encouragement, compassion, and appreciation were expressed and healing was the natural outcome to the stressful situation.

Although words can be helpful, they can also be stereotyped and misconstrued. For example, the words Christian Science, basically a trademark made more widespread by Mary Baker Eddy in the 19th century. However, Eddy's definition for Christian Science is very different from the definitions read in today's dictionaries. In her book Rudimental Divine Science, Eddy defined Christian Science, "As the law of God, the law of good, interpreting and demonstrating the divine Principle and rule of universal harmony."

In Science and Health, Eddy wrote, "The term CHRISTIAN SCIENCE was introduced...to designate the scientific system of divine healing."

In her definitions for Christian Science, Eddy does not mention, or allude to, it being a religious system she founded, or a church. In fact, because Christian Science is spiritual power, she writes in Science and Health, "Through Christian Science, religion and medicine are inspired with a diviner nature and essence..." Christian Science is simply a brand name for the universal force of good.

Newton discovered a force, influencing motion, and called it gravity. He wrote a manuscript, Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica, describing universal gravitation and its rules. Eddy discovered a force, advancing goodness, and called it Christian Science. She wrote a book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, describing the universal Science of Truth, Good, and its rules, including the rule of spiritual healing.

Years after Eddy discovered, wrote about, and taught Christian Science, she started a Church of Christ, Scientist; Newton did not formally organize an institution for students. During the next century, Christian Science became inordinately associated with the Church of Christ, Scientist. And, the definition of Christian Science tends to be reversed, defined as a religious system, a church, a philosophy of beliefs established by Eddy; whereas the definition for gravity is distinguished from Newtonianism.

Words are symbols. The human mind has a habit of confusing the symbols with the ideas supporting the symbols. Therefore, every so often definitions warp, although this does not alter the ideas or their principle. But usually, definitions are fairly stable. Admittedly, the spiritual ideas of encouragement and compassion have not been restricted to the use of facial tissues, and "the only thing to wipe our face with" has not become the definition of Kleenex.

A force of Good exists, is advancing healing and improvement-advancing deliverance from limitation and mortality. This force has been and ever will be, discovered, experimented with, practiced, and described by people of all backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, and circumstances. Different words or symbols will be used to describe the law of Good, because this immortal energy is immeasurable and will never ever be constrained by, or constricted to, a symbol, a book, a select group of people, a product, or a human organization.

Definitions of Christian Science in today's literature display an assumed ownership, detracting from Eddy's original meaning. We read definitions of Christian Science such as in the Merriam-Webster online Dictionary, "a religion founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1866 that was organized under the official name of Church of Christ, Scientist..." http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/christian%20science (Sept. 2008). Public perceptions, including the definitions of Christian Science, are diverse due to the assumption that a person, or a religious group, originated or have control over Christian Science. Impossible, when Christian Science is a spiritual, eternal power.

Christian Science, in its spiritual meaning, does not begin with a select person or group. Every person, every iota of creation is influenced by the law of Good, just as we all are influenced by the law of gravity.

When push comes to shove, the law of Good, and its healing influence, prevails. Words, and their random definitions, will not be an obstacle. Through Christian Science, also called divine Science, spiritual Science, the law of Love, of the Almighty, and a plethora of other words, human beings can take a stand-can detach themselves from symbols long enough to re-attach on a clearer level, to infinite, all-embracing Good. We can apply the principles of spiritual healing to our environment, our religions, our bodies, and our perceptions, scientifically, and feel the natural outcome of goodness.

Cheryl Petersen has revised and updated Eddy's "Science and Health." Her book, "21st Century Science and Health," is found online at http://www.HealingScienceToday.com

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