 Posted Sunday, January 01, 2012 8:51 PM
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Do Go Be Man,
Your sense of humility is admirable, and is one of the signs of a true Christian perspective that unfortunately is often missing in most of the Christian Scientists I know. My CS friends and acquaintances often display a sort of elitism that comes from a belief that their religion is so much better than anyone elses, and the only reason we don't join them is because we can't or won't understand.
It is difficult for Christian Scientists to discuss the Bible in context without reference to MBE, since they must believe that she holds all the keys to scriptural messages. Your search for this individual is much like Diogenes' search for one honest man. The ranks of CS include plenty of Bible scholars, but I don't believe you will find any who can interpret the "inspired word" without using MBE lenses. Such a person would no longer be a Christian Scientist.
Happy New Year to you and all on the CW forums. God bless you all.
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Posted Tuesday, January 03, 2012 8:32 PM
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Dear Carl,
I was raised as a Christian Scientist since childhood but have strayed along the way. More and more, as an adult I am realizing how relevant these teachings are and how they are becoming more relevant in today's world. Meditation is being practiced on a large scale and I have become a practitioner as well. And what is that but the affirmation of our at-oneness with God and the Universe that I was taught as a child in a CS Sunday School...our reflection and manifestation of the Divine. Mary Baker Eddy was only the messenger of this universal truth. My mother and grandmother were lifelong CS members and neither of them were afraid on the deathbed because they were taught that life is eternal and death is not the victor.
Roberta
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Posted Tuesday, January 03, 2012 9:03 PM
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| Mere Kat, The ranks of CS include plenty of Bible scholars, but I don't believe you will find any who can interpret the "inspired word" without using MBE lenses. Such a person would no longer be a Christian Scientist. I think you've described what happened to me. I began focusing on the Bible as the foundation of my faith rather than Science & Health, etc. I reached a point where my academic (science) training took over. I wanted to see the proof, the cited authorities. I found too much conflict between the Christian Science cherry-picked version of the Bible and the full Bible and its context to continue to "interpret the 'inspired word' without using MBE lenses". Thus, as I came to understand and accept the Bible for what it is, I could no longer call myself a Christian Scientist. Mary Baker Eddy claimed a Biblical foundation to her teachings yet also claimed the Bible to be too flawed to be understandable. Thus, her claimed foundation of perfect teaching was imperfect thus making her teaching imperfect. If Christian Scientists wanted to establish the Biblical authority of their beliefs, their scholars could produce editions of the teachings that include the Biblical proof texts. At least then, their "science" could be subject to peer review. My lamp and I'll keep looking for the honest Christian Scientist Bible scholar, but don't have especially high expectations of finding him. So far, the strongest argument any pretender seems to be able to offer is that I don't understand. Do Go Be Man
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Posted Wednesday, January 04, 2012 7:59 AM
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| Dear Roberta, Maybe Carl is still checking this topic, but you know, he has not posted or even logged in to this site since September 12, 2003. I was intrigued by your statement about the "relevance" of CS today. I used to think as you do that there was practical good in CS, but I have discovered even what seems to be good is tainted by the false beliefs promoted by this religion. It truly does more harm than good. In my view, CS has become less and less relevant in today's world. As we learn more and more in the fields of real science, theology, and medicine, Christian Science becomes less and less relevant to more and more people. Look around you --- the CS way of life is disappearing before your very eyes. Membership is falling, and churches are closing. You can meditate and celebrate your unity with the universe all you want, but prayer is the only way to communicate with God. I hope your CS practice will not bring harm to others in need. And I sincerely hope you will someday accept Jesus Christ for who He truly is, and follow Him, not Mary Baker Eddy to the Father.
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