 Posted Wednesday, June 10, 2009 6:36 PM
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| Dear No More CS For Me, Thank you, thank you, thank you, for your post. The things you have to say about your life with Christian Science need to be heard. The issues people should have with this religion are far more serious than say, the identity of Jesus. People are suffering. People are dying. Children are being abused. People who come to this site asking about the viability of Christian Science prayer need to hear this. The concept of Christian Science is idealistic and appealing so some people are eager to accept it and believe it. One can practice Christian Science for decades and feel that they have seen and heard of many healings and feel totally confident that "Knowing the Truth" will heal them of every ill. Fortunately, or unfortunately, most people are not faced with serious and/or deadly medical issues until they age. This is the time when the rubber meets the road and I have seen radical reliance fail with every member of my family. They all finally went to the hospital in various states of "falling down dead", much too late. After seeing a Christian Science friend suffer and die too young of a treatable condition I decided that the Christian Scientists themselves are to blame for spreading the myth of healing and building the bulwarks that support the myth. Like your mom, No More CS, they find a CS healing where there was none and pass it down the lane. Others here have told the same story, of how, when they were growing up, their mothers claimed a healing where there was none. I have been among CSers for 50 years and I would love to have a penny for every time I heard the statement "I had a nice healing". But, too, I saw those same people suffer with chronic illnesses their entire lives. Deny the gout, but claim a healing for the headache or the faultless mortgage closing. No More, my heart goes out to you for the suffering you endured as a child. I cant imagine how difficult it must be to have experienced so much loss at such a young age. And its often the case that we dont truly comprehend our loss until we are an adult and understand the significance. Square Peg
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Posted Wednesday, June 10, 2009 6:40 PM
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| Thanks no more CS4me for sharing your life story and prayers. God bless you. No one should have to suffer so much for a religion and church that has so completely failed your entire family. All too often, I've witnessed that shallow compassion you described that comes from the few Christian Scientists who even try to comfort others in pain. Of course there are exceptions; some can really understand your grief and know how to lovingly reach out and comfort. But it seems that too many practicing Christian Scientists feel that they have to deny the reality of all suffering, and thus just can't be compassionate all at. It's sad, truly sad, and as I've separated myself from CS, I feel more and more pity for these people who have never experienced such authentic human compassion. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." --they know not what they truly don't know. I have prayed about CS both before and after leaving the fold. And the 'response I have felt layed on my heart' is something I can only describe as an unmistakable peace. Prior to leaving, my prayers were increasingly unsettling. I was very active and happy in the church and never even considered the idea of leaving. But there was quite a lot of turmoil surrounding my experiences in CS churches and relationships and even in my daily work. I believe that God was with me through it all, and He was speaking to me, --not in the "burning bush" sort of way, but more in the "still, small voice" --quietly guiding me to better serve Him. One of the more gratifying results of my leaving CS behind is the sure affirmation that God really can and does heal us, even when we are under the care of doctors and nurses, --even when we are using material medicine. It is still God doing the work, and we don't have to deny our physical humanity in order to qualify for His Love, His tender care, His Healing touch. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32
Thanks be to God!
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Posted Wednesday, June 10, 2009 8:32 PM
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| no more CS4me, What a nightmare! I'm so sorry you had to go through all of this. Denial, secrecy, and lack of empathy are all so destructive, and it sounds like your childhood was full of them. My heart goes out to you.
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Posted Thursday, June 11, 2009 2:33 PM
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I completely agree about the lack of compassion.
When my ex-husband died, whom I met at Principia, I was devastated. I was greatly comforted by his friends (non-CS). And I sought out grief therapy which was very healing. I learned that grief and pain are part of life, not a failure on my part to have spiritual understanding.
It was my CS raised parents, and the friends I still had from Principia who had no idea how to comfort me, or what to say. I feel very badly for them. They also lose people to death, yet cannot effectively grieve. They are expected to heal their grief and bypass all the emotions that naturally rise to the surface when someone you love dies.
I did not leave CS due to biblical issues, nor do I attend church now, nor do I have any interest in doing so. I left CS because of the psychological damage I saw it do to my gay ex-husband who struggled for years to "heal" his homosexuality; the damage I suffered whenever I "failed" to be "perfect"; and the "blame the victim" thinking in CS that if you have anything bad happen in your life, it is due to your failure to understand God, so it's all your fault.
I still have friends who are practicing CS. But I dont' go to them for any comfort or to discuss anything serious going on in my life. I don't need the Scientific Statement of Being quoted to me -- even 25 years after leaving CS, I can still quote it from memory. For all the good it does.
Ann
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Posted Tuesday, July 14, 2009 12:29 AM
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| I don't know if you want to hear this, but it is truly sad that you experienced such lack of compassion. I had been fortunate and not experienced loss of a loved one until my mid 40's. I was a first reader when my mother passed on- true in typical CS fashion I did not advertise it, but had to get substitutes for my reading so I could go to California to comfort my Dad. I was so surprised when I got back to find cards & letters of encouragement, flowers and plants from my church family. Also the memorial gathering comprised mostly of CS friends of my parents and my other family that were non CS were so impressed by all the love. My Dad has continued to receive love and encouragment even 7 years later. Just this last week a dear dear friend and member passed on (by the way of a sudden anurism)- she had moved away from the area but every member went out of their way to get cards- send flowers etc. to the family and husband and even tonight at our regular membership meeting we all talked about our grief (through massive tears) and trying to come to terms with the situation. There's a quote in Science and Health about being carelful not to bury the spirit in the graveclothes of the letter in other words get so caught up in doctrine and dogma that compassion is forgotten. My Mormon mother in law vistied an Easter servce at a CS church I attended years ago and I remember her saying she had never in her life felt so much love in church before. Again I am very sorry that you did not experience that love and compassion that you deserved.
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