Christian Science

Christian Science is a religious movement focused on spiritual healing.

It is centered around the Church of Christ, Scientist. Followers are often called Christian Scientists or students of the faith. The religion is based on a specific set of theological beliefs. These beliefs suggest that the spiritual world is the only true reality. This perspective shapes how members view health, life, and the universe.

The core mechanism of Christian Science is a form of philosophical idealism. This is the belief that reality is purely spiritual in nature. In this view, the material world is considered an illusion. Consequently, followers believe that disease is a mental error rather than a physical disorder. To address illness, they use a specific form of prayer. This prayer seeks to correct the mistaken beliefs that cause the illusion of ill health. By aligning the mind with spiritual truth, they aim to restore health.

Christian Science is distinct from many other Christian denominations. It holds different views on key concepts like the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus. It also interprets the ideas of atonement and the resurrection differently. The movement is part of the broader "metaphysical family" of religious groups. This family includes movements like Divine Science and the Unity School of Christianity. While some groups focus on the mind being subordinate to matter, Christian Science teaches that matter itself is an illusion.

The history of the movement began with Mary Baker Eddy.

She founded the church in New England in 1879. Eddy had been a patient of Phineas Parkhurst Quimby between 1862 and 1865. Quimby was a mental healer who believed that truth could cure disease. Eddy wrote a foundational book in 1875 called Science and Health. She later added the subtitle "with Key to the Scriptures" in 1883. This book, alongside the Bible, serves as the central text for the faith. By 2001, more than nine million copies of her book had been sold.

The church has experienced significant changes in its membership numbers. In 1879, Eddy and 26 followers received a charter from Massachusetts. The church was reorganized under its current name in 1892. The Mother Church was constructed in Boston in 1894.

The religion grew very rapidly in the early 20th century. By 1936, membership reached nearly 270,000 people in the United States. However, numbers declined to just over 100,000 by 1990. By 2009, reports suggested there were fewer than 50,000 members.

There are notable aspects of how the church interacts with the world. The church publishes The Christian Science Monitor, a newspaper. This publication won seven Pulitzer Prizes between 1950 and 2002. The church also maintains public Reading Rooms globally. Regarding medical care, the church does not require members to avoid all doctors. Many adherents use dentists, optometrists, or physicians for broken bones. However, the church maintains that prayer is most effective when not combined with medicine. This stance has led to legal controversies. Between the 1880s and 1990s, some parents were prosecuted for neglect or manslaughter.

Christian Science connects to wider philosophical and religious trends. It emerged during a period of Protestant Christian revival in the United States. It is closely linked to the "mind-cure" movement of the 19th century. This movement grew because medical practice was still in its early stages. Many groups in this era focused on the power of the mind to affect the body. Christian Science remains a unique expression of these metaphysical ideas. It continues to be recognized for its specific theological interpretations and its historical impact on American religion.