 Posted Wednesday, October 28, 2009 8:32 PM
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I am a life long Christian Scientist, class taught by a CSB (authorized CS teacher), went to Principia College and worked at The Mother Church.
I am astounded as time has evolved at the many inconsistencies to what is actually written in the CS textbook and requirements for Church membership and what exists today as what a Christian Scientist "is". I chuckle at the effort many Christian Scientists go to interpret and, in my opinion, '"twist" what is actually written in order dictate behavior. All of this has little or nothing to do with healing in the fashion that Jesus did, and whatever we do needs to be consistent with his or her motives. But the idea that some action in and of itself makes one unworthy to walk in Jesus words has been the wedge that drives and has driven the youth away.
Is it right for churches to deny membership if the member needs medical attention? occassionally has a glass of wine, uses novocaine at the dentist, is gay, has sex before marriage?
I welcome your opinions.
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Posted Wednesday, October 28, 2009 9:57 PM
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| Would Jesus deny those people?
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Posted Wednesday, October 28, 2009 10:13 PM
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Anonymous October 28, 2009 @ 10:32:23 PM,
Is it right for churches to deny membership if the member needs medical attention? occassionally has a glass of wine, uses novocaine at the dentist, is gay, has sex before marriage?
After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, "Follow me." And leaving everything, he rose and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." - Luke 5:27-32 (ESV)
The God's Perfect Child thing makes less sense to me all the time. Churches should be hospitals for sinners rather than museums for saints.
Do Go Be Man
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Posted Thursday, October 29, 2009 9:46 AM
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I believe the only requirement for TMC membership is to be a serious student of MBE and to abstain from alcohol and tobacco. I don't think abstinence from medical care is required, but is simply the goal of applied "Science." Since the high-profile child deaths of the 70s and 80s, TMC has been increasingly hands-off, stating that the use or avoidance of medical care is an individual decision, and people who elect materia medica are not subject to Church discipline or sanctions.
Now, regarding sanctions from the CS culture? That's another matter! But there are differences between what TMC says and what really is church policy as opposed to what "adherents" think it is.
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Posted Thursday, October 29, 2009 9:22 PM
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your reply was remarkably consistent with the intial post when you said that to be church member you cannot smoke and drink. Where do you find this in the application MBE prepared and included in the Manual of the Church? Why did she not add this when on several occassions she could have and did not. Your simple statement was the epitome of the need jerk "culture" that exists with no real apparent thought behind it.
If you feel this way, tell us why and go to the application for membership and document your rational, and dont use nuances from her writings.
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Posted Friday, October 30, 2009 6:06 AM
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Another Voice,
I am always perplexed when CS come here to post. I am just curious as to why you want to post on a site for X-CS (not that you are not welcome). Are you here to set us straight, stir the pot, defend the religion?
Curious
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Posted Friday, October 30, 2009 6:23 AM
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another voice,
Where do you find this in the application MBE prepared and included in the Manual of the Church?
I think your questions illustrate the differences between the teachings of Christian Science and the culture of Christian Science. If you have not observed that, I would suggest that your experience with Christian Scientists is either limited or sheltered.
As to nuances of Mary Baker Eddy's writings, I think her feelings regarding medicine, tobacco, alcohol, coffee, and tea do not require much inducted analysis to determine where she felt they fit into the study and practice of Christian Science.
Do Go Be Man
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Posted Friday, October 30, 2009 8:32 AM
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To join our branch church, at least, they did have the restriction on the application that you were not to drink or smoke. Also, at Principia you were to abstain, and it was on the application, along with the standard to rely on Christian Science for healing -- medications are listed in the same section as illegal drugs.
Here is a cut and paste from the current Principia application:
"* Christian Science Information
The most important commitment you will make to Principia is to be an active, practicing Christian Scientist. As a student, your reliance on Christian Science for healing and your freedom from the use of alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and abstinence from sex outside of marriage during your enrollment will help ensure that all Principians will be living in an atmosphere of purity that supports their continued growth in Christian Science.
It is important that all applicants to Principia College be familiar with its standards and with the expectation that each member of the community endeavors to live up to these standards. See page 9 of this application for the Principia Pledge and Code of Conduct.
* Please respond to the following questions: Have you used any of the following within the past six months? Alcohol: Tobacco: Illegal Substance: Medications: If you marked "Yes" to any of the above, please explain the reasons for its use and the approximate date on which the substance was last used.
Are you willing to embrace and live by Principia's standard of zero tolerance regarding the use of these substances? Principia's standard is abstinence from premarital and extramarital sexual relations (and from homosexual activity). Are you ready and willing to live in accord with this standard?"
This is hardly a knee jerk reaction or simple oral culture. It's not the Mother Church, but it is Principia.
Ann
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Posted Friday, October 30, 2009 3:10 PM
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| Thanks for the quote from the Principia application, Ann. It's interesting to note that "medications" is still on the "zero tolernace" list. So much for the CSists who come to this site saying that they have no problem or guilt using medicine upon occasion. They would not be allowed to attend the world's only college for Christian Scientists.
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Posted Friday, October 30, 2009 3:35 PM
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Does Principia feed their students or are they required to go off campus to eat? As I recall, Elsah didn't offer a large opportunity for public off-campus eateries.
Not to go into the "too much information" realm, but should we assume that Principia does not have toilets and showers for meeting particular material needs? How do their severely near-sighted and far-sighted students cope with leaving their eyeglasses and contacts at home? Do they have wheelchair ramps and disabled parking spaces anywhere on campus?
Maybe toothpaste and soap do not fully fall into the medicine class even though hand washing is considered the single most important medical advancement of all time. Good dental hygiene has also contributed to longer life expectancies.
Seems to me that expecting college age students to have made full demonstrations over all material needs would severely limit their pool of eligible students.
Do Go Be Man
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