Christian Science
by k3vin on Nov.21, 2008, under Crazies, Personal Experience
I noticed something while sitting in my car waiting for the light to turn green. I look over and to my suprise I see the letters of a building connected to a small shopping center. Guess what it said…….. Okay, that’s not it. It said “Christian Science Reading Room.” WHAT?! So apparently, they charge for reading materials that give the “Christian Science” point of view. And aparently, there are MANY of these all across the Dallas area! Take a look for yourself: link.
I find it amazing that I had no idea these places were so prevalent and I also had no idea that it was such a North Texas thing. I truely am surrounded by crazy people…….
5 comments for this entry:
November 22nd, 2008 on 1:34 am
Hello,
I noticed your comment about Christian Science Reading Rooms and I thought it might help you to speak to a real Christian Scientist. I believe you would find us quite rational and reasonable.
Christian Science has been in existence since the late nineteenth century because it has been effective in the lives of many. I personally have witnessed and experienced enough examples of healing through prayer to trust Christian Science entirely for my healthcare. In addition to healings of accidents and disease, I have also had healings of financial and moral problems. In contrast I am aware of many reasons to question the effectiveness of medical care (surgical errors, hospital infections, 100% mortality rate, etc.) If one chooses to rely on something that has proven trustworthy, I call that logical and sane, not crazy.
Regarding your concern about Reading Rooms charging for reading materials, I’m happy to pay for the writing, publishing, and distribution of reading materials that help me. I assure you that neither the Church of Christ, Scientist, nor Christian Science Reading Rooms are in business to make bushels of money. Branch churches of Christian Science each staff a reading room in a nearby community with volunteers or modestly paid librarians. In addition to selling inspirational books, Reading Rooms are open to the public for study and meditation — at no cost. “HeathenZ” are especially welcome. They also maintain lending libraries, where people can borrow for free the same books and publications that are sold. I, and many Christian Scientists give away hundreds of Bibles and copies of the Christian Science textbook every year. I am happy to purchase these books for free distribution, as I feel that they can help people that are seeking something better in their lives.
If it is crazy or ineffective, a religious movement should fail and fade away. Christian Science continues because enough adherents find it helpful when it is applied correctly.
The next time you drive by one of those Reading Rooms, take a few minutes to check it out. The attendant will answer questions. You can take a look at some of the publications or just sit and think. Most people find it quite peaceful and restorative, and it won’t cost you a nickel.
Thanks for taking the time to read this. Respond if you wish. You have my e-mail address. My other contact information is listed below.
Respectfully,
Tim
Tim Booth
1 Maybeck Place
Elsah, IL 62028
Tel: 618-374-5161
November 22nd, 2008 on 11:52 am
Woah, Tim. You’ve said some things that are logical, but are based on premises that I think are false. But I actually can agree on certain aspects of Christian Science not on the given explanation but for the actual effects that prayer or meditation have on the body. There is also something to be said for the reassurance that religion sometimes gives us. I simply contend that that reassurance is unjustified.
“If it is crazy or ineffective, a religious movement should fail and fade away. Christian Science continues because enough adherents find it helpful when it is applied correctly.”
Given this claim, how would you explain Islam? Most Christians think many of Islamic beliefs are crazy. But as I hinted at above, what are you being effective at? Is it reaching out to your god and getting what you ask for or is it calming your mind down so you can think more logically to solve the problem at hand?
To your comment about questioning the effectiveness of modern medicine I have to say that I am ashamed that someone can have such a view in this time in history. Because of medial and technological advancements the average lifespan for humans has been greatly increased. Modern medicine cures many ailments that used to be fatal. Vaccines that many people are afraid of have, indeed, been shown to prevent outbreaks of polio, influenza, small pox, etc. This is demonstrable and replicable in studies. In contrast, faith studies are overwhelmingly NOT replicable and often rely on anecdotal evidence and the lack of variable control. If you are sick, pray to get better, take medicine for the sickness and then turn out to feel better the next day which solution do you think made you better?
I’m not saying the Christian Scientists aren’t nice people.. I’m sure they are friendly and most if not all of them sincerely believe in this stuff. However, I think their own lack of critical analysis is causing active harm to others. This may sound like a strong statement but I think it is completely justified.
November 23rd, 2008 on 1:00 pm
Yeah, I’m at A&M and I saw one in Northgate today. I could only shake my head.
November 24th, 2008 on 3:58 pm
Hey there K3vin, thanks so much for responding. I submit comments when there are comments about Christian Science on the web, but it is the unusual one that will engage.
I have a couple comments in response to your questions:
Have you ever spoken with a Christian Scientist before? Have you read the textbook or periodicals published by the Christian Science church? On what are you basing your premise that Christian Scientists lack critical analysis?
About Islam, I don’t want to attack or defend it, because I don’t have enough background to do so, but I would say that it must satisfy something in the hearts of those that practice it, or it wouldn’t continue.
What do I get from studying Christian Science? Well yes, I do get a sense of peace from it, and that does help me pray more effectively for healing and harmony in my life. I also get a solid concept of God and a format for prayer that generates healing to the degree that I practice it in a disciplined way. Some healings of which I am aware couldn’t have been accomplished through medical or other material means.
I am aware of one man who was crushed by large construction machine a few years back. Medical personnel at a hospital called his wife to come collect his body because there was nothing they could do for him and he would be dead by the time she arrived. She began to pray and engaged a Christian Science practitioner to pray as well. When she got back to the hospital, he was still living, but the picture was fairly grisly. She continued to pray, and with no help from the medical staff, the man’s body began to reform and grow new flesh. The way it is described in the testimony, sounds a little like a Lon Chaney movie — it was that fast. The medical staff were astounded. The man left the hospital on his own steam and went back to work within a few weeks. This healing was documented by the hospital and was published in the Christian Science periodicals. I’m curious. Althogh I’m not sure I could provide them, would you accept the medical records as proof that this was a spiritual healing?
I have had healings, for which I have only anecdotal evidence. That makes them no less significant to me or others with similar experiences. I know I can’t convince anyone else of them, but they are the reason I believe in prayer.
Regarding my criticism of medicine, please understand. I acknowledge the tremendous help that medicine has provided for most humans — myself included. While I have never received medical care of any kind (I’m 58 and quite healthy), my son was born by ceasarian and my wife and I were most grateful for the help in getting him born. Neither my wife nor my son would have survived without the surgery.
My intention in questioning medicine was meerly to present the concept that medicine is by no means infallable, yet Christian Science is held to a different standard. If someone prays and dies, that’s evidence that spiritual healing is ineffective. Do you agree that is inconsistent?
November 24th, 2008 on 5:05 pm
Hey Tim,
I have never spoken to a Christian Scientist so the basis for my opinion of them come from the few news articles that come up in the news cycle. For example, that little girl that died because she had diabetes and her Christian Science parents did not want her to take insulin. However, I don’t think that Christian Scientists aren’t capable of critical analysis. I simple think that they have been raised to think, from a very young age, that certain premises ARE correct and these ideas have never been challenged.
Would you accept the medical records as proof that this was a spiritual healing? This wouldn’t justify proof, partly because proof doesn’t exist outside of anything but human-made logical constructs, but also because the outline of the story you gave sounds fishy. The medical staff couldn’t do anything? Really? There’s a ton of things you have to do for a person that’s injured like that and I’m sure that the medical staff was busy doing just that. I’ve strayed away from the point I think you were trying to make. If I had this report and all the details seemed to point to the same conclusion then this would, in fact, merit further investigation. However, this incident being proof of spiritual healing is not justified. If the man ate a chicken sandwich before the incident would you say that chicken sandwiches heal wounds? My point is that if spiritual healing did exist and people did what was required to invoke spiritual healing then it would have a high success rate if you are going even begin to postulate correlation or even less causation.
Regarding your final question… Medicine and science in general LEARN FROM EXPERIENCE. In fact, the whole field is built up upon thousands of years of practice and hundreds of years of scientific studies. Through these methods we learn what works and what doesn’t. If a method doesn’t work like it is supposed to then that is something researchers need to study. Medical science has been built upon and continues to produce an expansive wealth of knowledge about how the human body works. There are people walking around today with artificial hearts, legs and arms. There are people being kept alive through machines that help them breath. To answer your question in a rather short manner: Medicine has earned respect through countless demonstrable successes where as Spiritual healing has not. Not inconsistent at all.