 Posted Sunday, April 29, 2007 8:38 PM
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| Hi, This is my first time to post anything, but I have checked out the website many times. I think it's really great, so thanks for starting it! I have been out of Christian Science for about 4 or 5 years. I grew up in it and still have a lot of issues about many different things. I would really like to see a counselor to start working through some things, but I am nervous about finding the right person to go to who has some knowledge about how cults like this work. Any suggestions? I have read Linda's book which is wonderful and I have been to Wellspring which was incredibly helpful, but now I feel like I need something more local and long term. I would appreciate any help. Thanks  li'l sister
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Posted Sunday, April 29, 2007 8:51 PM
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| li'l sister, I would really like to see a counselor to start working through some things, but I am nervous about finding the right person to go to who has some knowledge about how cults like this work. Any suggestions? Welcome! The most important suggestion I can offer is to be very careful in reviewing a counselor's beliefs before committing to counseling. I had one who tried to "cure" me of my religious beliefs. Another suggestion is to ask your contacts at Wellspring for a local referral. My guess is they would understand the need for local followup. Your pastor also likely has resources on his rolodex (so to speak). Do Go Be Man
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Posted Friday, February 13, 2009 3:10 PM
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I was raised in Christian Science and removed my name from its records in college. I found it to be a mix of good experience as well as confusion . I liken this to a beautiful frosting on a cake with the cake itself being filled with both joy and danger when it comes to serious health issues. I loved the music and of course the Beatitudes. From this religion, I learned skills of healthy detachment from negative choices of self defeating thoughts and how to successfuly set boundaries that apply to issues of alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs. In every religion there is a great deal of truth as well as outright lies. Children are dying in this religion because of lack of medical care. It is unconscious murder. Many of these folks wake up and become conscious after a death or unanswered prayer.
This particular religion worked well during the early 1900s when medicine was so horrid. Blood letting, dangerous surgeries etc. Of course a religion was established to counter this situation.Medicine has improved since then.
We are in a time when serious accidents call for prompt medical attention. I long ago had my name removed from these church records after seeing my brother die at near birth to good parents who were thinking correct thoughts. Their correct thoughts did not trump the longevity of their newborn.
I have grown to understand fully that it is important to do what works. I believe in nutritional healing and the Blood Type Diet of DAdamo, and have a healthy mistrust of the medical establishment in general but marvel at the strides in curing diseases such as leprosy, which Christian Science believes should be only overcome with prayer. Medicine is good for car wrecks and war wounds of course.
I also believe that medicine will progress in the next 100 years and be worthy of even more trust than it is now.Church membership in this religion has seriously dropped off. The Sunday Schools are barely functioning in some areas.
I understand that my brother died prematurely, not because of any bad thoughts of my mother and father, but because of a predisposition towards birth defects when mom is O blood and Dad is A blood, as well as age of parents and lack of cash flow towards nutrition spent on fetus.Sperm and Egg quality are developed in part due to the healthy quality foods being spent on baby to be.I have met so many religious people in general who think they can eat anything and God will protect them. Such denial.....
Also helpful to me has been a study of genetic tendencies towards personality type in college as well as genetic predispositions towards choice of careers.
Behavioral Genetics was the main type of counseling that helped me to understand myself.
I remember the guilt I felt in going to the doctor for the first time at 18. I had been brainwashed to believe that by going to the doctor, I would bring on disease. The safe answer to health lies in wholesome entertainment and a healthy lifestyle as well as good dental care and prevention. Emotional health comes from speaking the truth in love and seeking out solutions to problems that work.
Your life is work in progress. I believe you will find all of your answers that you seek that are needed for a happy life.
EX CS
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Posted Saturday, February 14, 2009 11:11 AM
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| Just wanted to let you know that I loved your note, but you didn't mention the Bible or quote from it even once....well, maybe 'loving' the Beatitudes would count. I'm always interested in all the Exes here writing about the advances of medical science, but rarely mention the dangers and the importance of being skeptical at times. Listen to the parents who are sure vaccines have 'ruined' their and their children's lives. Medicine always comes back with the usual stance of 'the good outweighs the risks' ad infinitum. Christian Science coupled with a crazy mother nearly ruined my life and I'm still dealing with it at my age (way past 'retirement'), but I've always been grateful for being accosted by it. It makes me wary of other 'advances,' whether in thought or the 'physical' sciences.
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Posted Saturday, February 14, 2009 7:24 PM
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| Be careful not to throw out the baby with the bath water. Neither CS nor medical science define a Christian's authority. Jesus does that. He told us that his followers would heal the sick, cast out demons, etc. Christian's still have the authority to do that. We need to be careful not to cut God off at the knees because CS presents a distorted theology. Christians can heal because Jesus said we can. Greek
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Posted Saturday, February 14, 2009 9:21 PM
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| Greek to me....and you're addressing this to...????
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Posted Sunday, February 15, 2009 1:28 PM
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| Hi Anonymous, My comment is for general audience, but as I think about your question, it is probably more important for the seasoned saints to remember than for those who have just left CS. Greek
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Posted Sunday, February 15, 2009 11:42 PM
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Anonymous (2/14/2009)
Just wanted to let you know that I loved your note, but you didn't mention the Bible or quote from it even once....well, maybe 'loving' the Beatitudes would count. I'm always interested in all the Exes here writing about the advances of medical science, but rarely mention the dangers and the importance of being skeptical at times. Listen to the parents who are sure vaccines have 'ruined' their and their children's lives. Medicine always comes back with the usual stance of 'the good outweighs the risks' ad infinitum. Christian Science coupled with a crazy mother nearly ruined my life and I'm still dealing with it at my age (way past 'retirement'), but I've always been grateful for being accosted by it. It makes me wary of other 'advances,' whether in thought or the 'physical' sciences.
Is it required to quote the Bible to be on this site? Or mention the Bible?
Not everyone on this site is a Christian.
I agree with you that modern medical science should be viewed with caution at times. The pharmaceutical companies are only interested in profit, and many drugs are more dangerous than the conditions they are supposed to cure. Anything needs to be approached with healthy skepticism -- both Christian Science and medical science are created and run by human beings, and we are all fallible.
That being said, medical science also has much good to offer. It pays to educate yourself.
Ann
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Posted Monday, February 16, 2009 11:16 AM
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"We are in a time when serious accidents call for prompt medical attention. I long ago had my name removed from these church records after seeing my brother die at near birth to good parents who were thinking correct thoughts. Their correct thoughts did not trump the longevity of their newborn.
I have grown to understand fully that it is important to do what works. I believe in nutritional healing and the Blood Type Diet of DAdamo, and have a healthy mistrust of the medical establishment in general but marvel at the strides in curing diseases such as leprosy, which Christian Science believes should be only overcome with prayer. Medicine is good for car wrecks and war wounds of course.
I also believe that medicine will progress in the next 100 years and be worthy of even more trust than it is now."
Dear Ones;
I felt like I had to select one part of Anonymous EX CS post to highlight so that I could share my gratitude to the person who wrote it. In my view the entire post it is totally brilliant. It echoes my beliefs. I also honor one God and practice my religion of choice along with the psych and nutrition studies; and the study of what kind of "entertainment" enters my eyes and ears. So thank you for writing this post so eloquently. It reinforces my hope that there are other former CSists out there that I can relate to and who can relate to me who think that nutrition and prevention along with careful study and cautious use of medicine and innoculations is a very good and Godly way to go.
A. Mouse
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Posted Saturday, February 21, 2009 8:47 AM
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I found that my training to self-help was so strong that books worked well for me - as long as I knew what topics to follow. It took me about 10 years to feel really strong, and lots of that had to do with Salvation Army's women's retreats & Women's Bible study and fellowship. I don't know if you have them in your area, or something similar.
As for people, Joyce Meyer seems to be on target for a lot of stuff. There are other Christian authors out there, who really get the point across, with love and authority. It helps to be able to skim through the book yourself and see.
As I mentioned elsewhere, Self-Help Clearinghouse is good too. There are 12 step programs for things from overeating to abuse issues.
A single person as a therapist may be good, or so may a group therapy situation. God can use the humblest among us for his purposes. It doesn't have to be just those with a degree!
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