 Posted Thursday, May 18, 2006 11:13 PM
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I can't tell you how thrilled I was to find this site!
It has been so reassuring to read everyone's stories and know that we have a common bond.
A tape came to me from "Christianway" while attending Principia College. Six years later during grad school the tape finally made it to the car stereo on a road trip. Three years after, grace came to me and I became a Christian. One of the biggest challenges was the immediate loss of CS community before setting up a new network. Having attended both Principia Upper School (86) and College (90), along with being a counselor at Camp Owatonna leaving the CS world was a big departure. A lot of growth and fun was had during those developmental years at school and camp, inspite of the obvious unhealthy mental constrictions. By and large the educational heart seemed to be in the right place but the hypocracy was nerve racking. It is so freeing to realize that "I am not perfect", so I can toss that weight off my shoulders with a clear conscience and release the cognitive dissonance!
My favorite quote from the past is "The time for thinkers has come." I could not agree more. My two favorite days in life have been witnessing my brother's baptism and then being cleansed myself. Our paths have been difficult but God was with us all along and through the Holy Spirit Christ has found us all. (Sorry to be a little preachy but the last six years have literally been a re-birth.) By actually thinking, for a change, the chains and anguish of CS are starting to fall away.
It would be great to connect with others whether Prino's or not.
You all are doing a great thing by honestly communicating here!
(If any one is in the SF Bay Area, it might be fun to get a group together some time to support each other and revel in our collective progress.)
Cheers,
Paul
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Posted Friday, May 19, 2006 5:20 AM
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Welcome, Paul!
I'm so glad you found us. I graduated from Prin college in 1977 and found a personal relationship with Jesus Christ in 1985 (you can read my story here and reach me by clicking on my name at the bottom of the page). I really loved Prin and had a lot of deep roots in the CS community, so I understand the "big departure" you mentioned. It's always nice to find other Prinos who have left CS and become Christians.
It's wonderful that your brother has also found a relationship with Jesus Christ! I'm glad the two of you can take this new spiritual walk together.
Blessings,
Linda
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Posted Friday, May 19, 2006 9:27 PM
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Paul:
Great story. I believe you and I overlapped at Prin College, as I graduated in 1988. While I loved attending Prin and still enjoy going back for reunions, I'm relieved to be out of CS. I was baptized a few years ago. The Internet was one of the big reasons why I left CS; it was easy to search used-book stores and amazon.com to find books written in the early part of the 20th century, one of which TMC had the plates burned, The Life of Mary Baker Eddy. Thank God it was printed by the University of Nebraska Press in the early 1990s. I could see what MBE and CS were really like. For example, did you know that Eddy believed that one of her husbands was murdered by arsenic poisoning metally administered?
Still, it was through reading more of the Bible and seeing friends die in Christian Science -- especially the two students and a child of a faculty member of the measles in 1985 during my freshman year. Two of my favorite Prin professors died too young, both within the past five years: Jerry Collester (Political Science) and William Conner (English). Collester had been "struggling with something" before dying, and Conner died during the school term of a heart attack (at home). One Prin grad I knew committed suicide because he was gay and couldn't reconcile it with his CS beliefs. And these are only a few people who have been harmed by CS.
I could never figure out the inconsistencies, either. Many "devout" CSers used glasses or wore contact lenses, others had false teeth. In too many instances could I find examples of CS not working. But remember, when you're a stong CSer, you never talk about your health problems.
Many Prin friends have drifted away since I left CS, and it's sad. Many CSers don't like keeping in touch after you've left the fold. I felt great pressure before I decided to get out. I knew CS wasn't for me any more, but I had to leave it before it destroyed me. The mental gymnastics one has to go through to believe MBE's writings are incredible. I really thought I was going to have a breakdown if I stayed in CS. It's still a struggle sometimes, even though I officially quit TMC in 1998 (if memory serves). One good thing: I don't think MBE sayings anytime I'm sick. I just realize that I'm under the weather and can use whatever method I want to get better.
This board is a great way to meet other ex-CSers and to share our stories. A lot of people need a lot of healing. Thanks again for your story.
RisRap
Prin 88
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Posted Thursday, May 25, 2006 8:53 PM
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RisRap,
I remember the fall of '85 well and still think about Jennifer, the faculty member's child who died. She had a locker just down from mine and was a truly kind and generous person who got along with practically everyone.
Good for you for being free of the CS guilt and MBE phraseology when you are not feeling well. That must be a very welcome relief. As I've been thinking over the last week, something struck me. I am a "free will" type of guy, so have no issue with adults choosing to "drink the Coolaid" and rely on CS. My issue truly comes with the care of children. Here is the logical disconnect. Every CS adult must know that CS will ultimately fail them as there is not a single one who as ascended. With this in mind, how then can CS parents play "health roulette" with their children's lives with a clear conscience. I know it is always easier to believe any platitude about some one else than oneself, but this is ridiculous. I know in my experience some how physical and emotional neglect was deemed as "caring" and "knowing the truth". And yet, the so called "science" when it does not work physically is claimed to have been worked out "absolutely" even when the evidence has failed. The logical hypocracy is stunning. If only we could apply this to our daily lives... Oh sorry mortgage holding bank, I've worked out "supply" in the absolute so don't have to make payments. Haaa... (Sorry for the rant.)
Despite all this, I do have many great memories of my time at Prin. There is a lot of good happening there, but I simply wish that the CS part could be dropped.
Linda,
Thanks for the encouragement and serving as the host for the message boards!
Cheers,
Paul
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Posted Tuesday, September 12, 2006 9:02 PM
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I was at the college from 1999 to 2003. Who was the faculty member you mentioned whose child died?
Courtney
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Posted Wednesday, March 07, 2007 1:27 AM
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Sorry for the months of delay in answering your question.
I am in Africa, volunteering in orphanages, and e-mail can be a little hard to come by.
Since it is public knowledge, the professor was Mr. Evans, a tremendously kind man.
The loss of his daughter struck everyone because she was equally as gracious as he is.
Every time I saw him my heart cried for his, because the loss never left his face.
I hope this is helpful and you have the best intentions with this twenty-something year old knowledge.
Cheers,
Paul
US86, C90, Saved99
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