The Christian Way Forums / The Christian Way Forums / Outreach to Loved Ones in Christian Science / Birthdays in CS? / Latest Posts

RE: Birthdays in CS?

tmcl — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 15:35:52 GMT

[quote][b]followingHim (11/13/2007)[/b][hr]The Mother Church has no official policy on birthdays, leaving this up to individual members. I would be interested to know if any other Forum participants have (hopefully, specific) information on Eddy's writings or personal practices.[/quote]

followingHim,

According to the MBE Library, Mrs. Eddy celebrated birthdays (her own and others) in a modest way up to the end of her life, giving and receiving modest gifts etc. with members of her household. However, she took steps to put a stop to some Christian Scientists sending her elaborate gifts on her birthday.

Bliss Knapp also reports that Mrs. Eddy heard that his father, Ira Knapp (a member of the Board of Directors of The Mother Church), was fanatical about not celebrating birthdays. When his next birthday came, Mrs. Eddy sent him a birthday present!

RE: Birthdays in CS?

Linda — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 15:35:46 GMT

Mrs. Eddy said some things that have caused a bit of confusion regarding birthdays. Here are three that I'm aware of:

1- Annie Knott recorded the following exchange with her students in the "We Knew Mary Baker Eddy" series:

"One of the students present turned to her suddenly and said, 'Mrs. Eddy, won't you point out to us the place where you were born?' To this Mrs. Eddy responded in her characteristic way, and with a radiant smile said, [b]'Oh, I never was born, but if you mean Mary, well, Bow is over there,'[/b] at the same time indicating with her finger the direction in which we could look to see what would humanly be called her birthplace." (We Knew MBE, third series, p. 80-81, emphasis added)

2- The day before MBE turned 75 years old she wrote, [b]"today is my birthday. So saith mortal mind." [/b] (p. 254 of Nenneman's [i]Persistant Pilgrim,[/i] emphasis added.)

3- Mrs. Eddy said the following in [i]Science and Health:[/i]

"[b]Never record ages. [/b]Chronological data are no part of the vast forever. Time-tables of birth and death are so many conspiracies against manhood and womanhood. Except for the error of measuring and limiting all that is good and beautiful, man would enjoy more than threescore years and ten and still maintain his vigor, freshness, and promise. Man, governed by immortal Mind, is always beautiful and grand." (S&H, 246:17, emphasis added)

I know of a few CSists who have made a point not to celebrate birthdays because of Mrs. Eddy's statements, but most go ahead and celebrate them. Nennemen mentions in his book that Mrs. Eddy did not prohibit the celebration of birthdays -- and that she was pleased when some CS teachers in Chicago remembered hers (p. 254).

RE: Birthdays in CS?

followingHim — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 13:31:17 GMT

The Mother Church has no official policy on birthdays, leaving this up to individual members. I would be interested to know if any other Forum participants have (hopefully, specific) information on Eddy's writings or personal practices.

I grew up in CS in the 50's and 60's. In my household (Mother was a CSB) children's birthdays were celebrated through the teens; the parents, not so. When I became an adult I found my parents increasingly reluctant to acknowledge, never mind celebrate, their own birthdays. The matter of Christmas is an inconsistency I never noticed.* Good job!

This is based on the belief that birthdays contradict out true identity as "Immortal Man," who has neither a beginning, nor an ending, since He reflects the qualities of His Creator.

This begs the question, of course: How can we have a "Creator" if there is no origin or beginning to us, suggesting that we were not/could not have been created? Also, isn't endless (neither beginning nor ending) self-existence a quality of the Divine? It then follows, that we, too are Divine!

Thus, according to CS, we are Gods!

Q.E.D.

*Jehovah's Witnesses eschew Christmas, but for other reasons.

RE: Birthdays in CS?

Do_Go_Be_Man — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 13:25:24 GMT

Anonymous Posted November 13, 2007 @ 2:49:44 PM,

[quote]Can anyone tell me if Christian Scientists celebrate birthdays or not? If not, why do they "celebrate" Christmas then, since it's technically Jesus' birthday? Thanks.[/quote]
Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate birthdays. CSists generally have no special issues with birthdays other than the usual cultural vanities of those growing older and never discussing a lady's age.

Do Go Be Man
<><