The Christian Way Forums / The Christian Way Forums / Resources / Polio: An American Story / Latest Posts

RE: Polio: An American Story

IleftCSin74 — Wed, 07 May 2008 18:26:19 GMT

[b]Moderator's note: this post has been moved to the "CS - General Discussion Not Related to doctrine » CS Churches Closing - Why?" thread.[/b]

RE: Polio: An American Story

Do_Go_Be_Man — Wed, 07 May 2008 18:18:06 GMT

Anonymous May 7, 2008 @ 9:08:26 PM,

[quote]Shouldn't this discussion be moved to the topic regarding the closing of churches?[/quote]
Yep, it should be. How about anyone wanting to continue commenting on the closing of CS churches pick it up in the
"CS - General Discussion Not Related to Doctrine » CS Churches Closing - Why?" thread?

Do Go Be Man
<><

RE: Polio: An American Story

IleftCSin74 — Wed, 07 May 2008 17:46:26 GMT

[b][Moderator's note: message deleted by IleftCSin74's special request][/b]

RE: Polio: An American Story

IleftCSin74 — Wed, 07 May 2008 16:40:35 GMT

[b][Moderator's note: message deleted by IleftCSin74's special request][/b]

RE: Polio: An American Story

Do_Go_Be_Man — Tue, 06 May 2008 08:00:10 GMT

I am very glad that we have CSists posting here. I suppose some might call it debate, but I prefer the terms (and attitude) of discussion and fellowship.

Rather than being concerned about whether a particular church has the claimed active membership, I'd be curious to know why that church seems more active than the typical CS church. What are they doing that other CS churches are not to attract an active membership? Can the experiences of the Pasadena church be replicated elsewhere? Is the Pasadena membership the result of growth or consolidation? Are their theological positions in line with TMC?

Do Go Be Man
<><

RE: Polio: An American Story

Linda — Tue, 06 May 2008 06:09:55 GMT

[quote]I was taught that a Christian Scientist was not supposed to debate it in public. [/quote]

So was I.

[quote]There haven't been 2,000 CS churches operating for many years now.[/quote]

I have a friend who complies church stats from information availbable from The Mother Church. As of May 2007 there were 1250 CS churches and 511 societies worldwide. The number drops by a couple % per year.

RE: Polio: An American Story

IleftCSin74 — Mon, 05 May 2008 22:53:38 GMT

[b][Moderator's note: message deleted by IleftCSin74's special request][/b]

RE: Polio: An American Story

Gentle Dove — Mon, 05 May 2008 18:35:19 GMT

I find it odd that the Christian Scientist attempt to engage any discussion on this forum whatsoever. I was taught that a Christian Scientist was not supposed to debate it in public. Anything negative was to be handled by the COP (Committee on Publication). Was I taught wrong or was someone just trying to shut me up?

On another note: Isn't it kind of creepy that a religion has to have a "Big Brother" organization to keep control of information disemination?

RE: Polio: An American Story

IleftCSin74 — Mon, 05 May 2008 18:09:47 GMT

[b][Moderator's note: message deleted by IleftCSin74's special request][/b]

RE: Polio: An American Story

SharonMarie — Mon, 05 May 2008 16:24:07 GMT

Dear Do Go and All,

I understand all are welcome here. And please forgive me if I sounded a little testy, but it just seems that every time a good discussion gets going, here comes a CS member to tell us all how wrong we are....how many healings they have had....and how full the churches are.

I personally have suffered a great deal in the name of Christian Science....a totally dysfunctional childhood (and no polio shots) as I was told that everything I saw or felt was not real. I struggle with the mind control still. I was so thrilled to find this forum and read the stories that were so much like mine and participate in them, but I guess every time one of them comes on here to tell me how wrong I am, I just revert back to those voices in my head. "This is error....this is not real....know the truth....something wrong with your thinking". I am the last member alive in my family. All died well before they had to with illnesses that if treated early would not have killed them.

Sorry if I sounded a little irritated.

Sharon

RE: Polio: An American Story

Gentle Dove — Mon, 05 May 2008 11:29:44 GMT

Regarding the above posts, I can't help but wonder why the Christian Scientists consider anyone who speaks out about the suffering and/or unexplained deaths is said to be "attacking" the church such that it must defend. A polio outbreak, a measles outbreak, child deaths, disabled people due to lack of medical treatment, people dying of medically treatable illnesses, childhood suffering at the hands of CS "treatment", family shunning, etc. are things that happened, some of us witnessed first hand; so is everyone just supposed to keep quiet? It is hardly an attack. We are sharing experiences in a supportive environment and if a CS happens to see it and not like what they see, so be it, but don't accuse the posters of "attacking".

RE: Polio: An American Story

Do_Go_Be_Man — Mon, 05 May 2008 11:01:31 GMT

A watchful Christian Scientist,

I posted a reply to your May 5, 2008 @ 2:21:37 AM message as a new topic, Doctrinal and Bible Related Issues » Mary Ann or Ginger?

Do Go Be Man
<><

RE: Polio: An American Story

Do_Go_Be_Man — Mon, 05 May 2008 10:26:29 GMT

SharonMarie,

[quote]I appreciate your desire to defend your CS faith....but...this is a forum for those of us who are FORMER members or followers of Christian Science who have worked our way out, some of us into mainstream Christianity and some of us still struggling with our spirituality.[/quote]

With all due respect... while the majority of contributors to these forums are former CSists, we welcome CSists and try even in our obvious disagreements to be respectful of their beliefs. I have greatly benefited from the contributions of CSists to these forums though perhaps not in the manner they intended.

As a CSist beginning to question CS, I participated in a Christian online forum. Though questioning, I stuck to the CS "partyline" and learned a great deal regarding Biblical truth. The Christians on that site probably never knew the impact their apparently unsuccessful discussions had. I frequently reveled in smoking them with my CS flames and unerring logic. As a loyal CSist, I had no other venue to explore my doubts or to taunt the Christians that insisted I lacked grace and a Christian in name only.

I welcome the issues raised by CSists. They provide me new opportunities to explore Scripture in the context of specific CS teachings. Aristole identified one of the hazards of isolating any group relative to what they believe and study. In isolation, it's relatively easy to control group beliefs. Problem is that it's just as easy to change group beliefs when exposed to alternates. I've found that CS teachings, when objectively studied, fail easily in the light of Scriptures. Undoing decades of CS study will, however, likely be a lifelong process. As a proponent of the Scientific Method, I appreciate the opportunity to conduct specific Biblical study that I can document and present for peer review.

Whether a CSist gains strength in CS or Scripture from these forums is beyond my control. I pray that God uses us in whatever manner He so chooses.

Do Go Be Man
<><

RE: Polio: An American Story

SharonMarie — Mon, 05 May 2008 07:46:27 GMT

Dear Watchful,

I appreciate your desire to defend your CS faith....but...this is a forum for those of us who are FORMER members or followers of Christian Science who have worked our way out, some of us into mainstream Christianity and some of us still struggling with our spirituality. We all have our stories and our struggles and our observations to tell. I frankly do not appreciate what I percieve to be the constant trolling of this forum by Christian Scientists bent on arguing every point one of us makes. If we are so full of "error" then keep away from us and you can simply "know the truth" about us. Perhaps we can be healed. In your belief, arguing with us can make you a victim of our "malicious animal magnatism" so better that you stay away. Let us have our "erroneous beliefs" in what the Scriptures actually say and not what the man who re-wrote Science and Health says they say, please!

Sharon

RE: Polio: An American Story

Linda — Sat, 03 May 2008 20:04:43 GMT

Mark,

The guy I knew from Daycroft was named David L, so we're not talking about the same person. Wish I could have told you that your friend is OK!

RE: Polio: An American Story

IleftCSin74 — Sat, 03 May 2008 18:52:14 GMT

[b][Moderator's note: message deleted by IleftCSin74's special request][/b]

RE: Polio: An American Story

Linda — Fri, 02 May 2008 18:21:13 GMT

What was your roommate's name (FIRST name only, please)? I knew a guy at Prin who had gotten polio at Daycroft and walked with a pronounced limp.

RE: Polio: An American Story

IleftCSin74 — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:51:15 GMT

[b][Moderator's note: message deleted by IleftCSin74's special request][/b]

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 15:11:00 GMT

Forgot to sign....sigh...
Also Curious

Polio: An American Story

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 15:10:01 GMT

I always check c-span's booktv.org site on weekends to see if there's anything interesting (other than political writers). Last weekend there was a lecture/Q&A by David Oshinsky the author of this book. What a revelation! I have trouble with the medical community in general and this brought home how wonderful medicine can be when the government stays out of it. I have the book reserved at the library and haven't read it yet, but since I have a personal story connected, I did wanted to comment. I lived through the polio scare as a child and, of course, it wasn't treated as such by my parents. This is the only time my mother 'gave in' when asked to donate to a medical charity. You have no idea how out of character this was for her. Little cards were distributed at school to fill in the openings with dimes and quarters for the March of Dimes. I remember like it was yesterday. Of course, FDR was the great administrator along with his personal lawyer who kept the 'march' going. This story alone is enough to make one weep. Of course, regrettably, he died some years before the Salk vaccine. There were 'survivors' in the audience, some suffering from post-polio sydrome, some ancient nurses who described the old 'iron lungs,' and even a few laughs along the way, but the main emphases in the book are on the vaccine and immunizations 'discovered' by Salk and Sabin (who, btw, 'despised each other...which brought the biggest laugh). The Sister Kenny treatments were discussed in detail, but the most important aspect in this particular lecture was how successful the March of Dimes became and the importance of it in saving millions of lives. I remember the caution expressed about swimming, large crowds (movies, especially), and to watch 'symptoms' of every kind in your child. Of course, my sister and I were allowed to attend movies, swim whenever, and didn't worry about crowds anywhere and I'm sure these people who joined in these activities were not all Christian Scientists, so there you are. The polio in Africa is predicted to be eradicated by 2010. Let's hope this proves to be true.