 Posted Thursday, December 28, 2006 3:31 PM
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I'm new here of course, so please bear with me as I learn the rules.
But I must say that I'm quite suprised to jump into a forum for "Ex-Christian Scientists", and immediately be engaged (and then dis-engaged) by practicing Christian Science apologists!
Don't get me wrong; I'm actually thrilled, and seeing how they respond to people's questions will be part of my healing process. But:
Why are you Christian Scientists here?
Surely, it's not evangelization. A collection of people who have fallen away after hearing MBE for 10, 20, 30+ years would seem to be the least fruitful place on earth to attempt this, and C.S. never was big on proselytizing anyway.
Surely they must also know that their presence here could be intimidating to some. When I was practicing Christian Science, I always took the fact that C.S. was very low-key on evangelization as a sign that C.S. wasn't a "cult" - but seeing C.S. birds circling over a Forum designed for people who are trying to escape from C.S. now makes me not so sure.
Don't get me wrong! Personally, I'm glad that you C.S. apologists are here. Perhaps I might find some logical answers about C.S. that nobody seems to be able to provide.
I'm pleased to meet you, of course! But why are you Christian Scientists here?! It seems so "unscientific", as a Christian Scientist might say.
Birdstrike
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Posted Thursday, December 28, 2006 5:41 PM
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| Birdstrike, Well, for one thing, I am here because one of the Christian Way forum moderators, Linda, has had a longstanding invitation for Christian Scientists to participate here. I guess I am here to help provide another perspective on some of the issues being discussed. We are social beings and I enjoy hanging out and discussing matters of interest to me as much as the next person. I have no thought that my posts will bring ex-Christian Scientists back into the fold. The above said, I often feel that I've spent too much time here, as there is a lot to do and only so many hours in a day. I have not gotten involved in certain discussions purely because I don't want to spend the time and effort. But I am still here for now (and I don't see anything "unscientific" about being here either).
tmcl
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Posted Thursday, December 28, 2006 9:27 PM
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tmcl:
Hearing corrupted doctrine by us ex-scientists just doesn't seem like something that would enhance your spiritual development, that's all. Mrs. Eddy once advised us to (paraphrasing) ". . never breath an impure (?) atmosphere, unless in an attempt to purify it." I would think that time spent with people on a lower plane is time wasted - or counterproductive - without some hope of raising us up.
Most Christian Scientists I know would have a clear objective, it seems to me, or not squander the time.
Birdstrike
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Posted Thursday, December 28, 2006 11:12 PM
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tmcl:
Could I, or anyone else, ever convince you not to be a Christian Scientist?
Birdstrike
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Posted Friday, December 29, 2006 6:46 AM
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birdstrike (12/28/2006)
tmcl:
Could I, or anyone else, ever convince you not to be a Christian Scientist?
BirdstrikeI don't know. Nobody has convinced me yet.
tmcl
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Posted Friday, December 29, 2006 5:30 PM
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tmcl:
You do raise an interesting point in a previous thread (before I arrived) about atheism and Christian Science. Is C.S. a kind of halfway house between the two?
I can definitely understand that the "Jesus died for your your sins" approach can be just as unpalateable might MBE's teaching to some.
Is it sort of a "where else shall we go?" kinda thing? I must admit that I liked the "seven synonym" approach when I practiced Christian Science.
Birdstrike
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Posted Friday, January 05, 2007 11:55 AM
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| You touch on a profound point, Birdstrike: Is C.S. a kind of halfway house between the two?
I can definitely understand that the "Jesus died for your your sins" approach can be just as unpalateable might MBE's teaching to some.
Is it sort of a "where else shall we go?" kinda thing? CS, like many cults, can have a very poisoning effect on people: it really turns them hostile go God and religion in general. I've seen it quite a few times. There's an unspoken sentiment, "I've been burned by organized religion, so I'm not going anywhere near that again!" And it's not just disinclination, it is often a seething hatred. It seems that because of CS they reject Biblical Christianity as well as all religion.
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Posted Thursday, January 11, 2007 9:55 PM
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Okay, tmcl:
I point out that there is no basis for any system of ethics or morals Christian Science - and our C. S. apologists are too tired to argue.
I point out that there is really no reason for a Christian Scientist to get out of bed in the morning, theoretically - and our C. S. apologists are too tired to argue.
But just now in the "C.S. funerals" thread, you make a valiant effort to cast Christian Science as somehow similar to mainstream Christianity, and even imply that the concept of "original sin" has a parallel in Christian Science.
Why can you not simply own Mary Baker Eddy's teachings and represent them honestly?! Most Christian Scientists I know would! Don't be ashamed. If you believe in Mary Baker Eddy, then believe in her! But don't try to claim that C.S. is anything but remotely similar to mainstream Christianity.
I also mentioned that your presence might possibly be intimidating to recent ex-Christian Scientists (I did not expect my first two replys on an ex-Christian Science site to be from Christian Science apologists).
Are you really just here for "social reasons"? You're certainly not clearing anything up. . .
Birdstrike
Birdstrike.
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Posted Friday, January 12, 2007 7:50 AM
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Birdstrike,
I'm not sure that speculating or questioning tmcl's motives for participating in the CW forums is especially productive. He has contributed interesting, well thought out, courteous messages in spite of an often unfriendly audience. Though I usually disagree with him, I do respect him and appreciate his participation.
Do Go Be Man
<><
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Posted Friday, January 26, 2007 5:05 PM
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| Perhaps it is just curiosity.
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