 Posted Saturday, May 17, 2003 5:41 PM
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I'm seeing so many changes in the Christian Science churches that are being promoted in their periodicals, lectures, and branches churches. I can't say whether these changes will make Christian Science more palliative to non-Scientists or not. The first thing is that it appears that a number of the church members are using medicine and getting hospital treatment. A couple of weeks ago I attended a Wednesday evening Testimony service where one guy stood up told about himself being in the hospital and that Christian Science was working for him. He did this same thing at their Thanksgiving day service. Nobody said anything during these services to counter what he said. I had to ask a church member about this and she told me that 60% of their members don't use medicine but 40% do. She told me that this guy is, in fact, a member. Wow, astonishing!
Their periodicals seem to be focusing less on Christian Science and more on other religions and therapies. I understand they are doing this to attract newcomers.
Their lectures are totally vapid. They tell you nothing about what Christian Science is about.
I'd like to know if others are seeing these same things going on. I doesn't appear to be helping to increase their membership.
Thanks,
Lorela
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Posted Sunday, May 18, 2003 4:16 AM
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The church in my area (St. Louis) is still as lethargic and stiff as ever. I see no changes whatsoever. In fact, having attended a Christian church for some time now, I'm almost *stunned* by how boring the old CS service is. It's quite a contrast. I go back to the CS church about once every two months but nothing ever changes.
I saw at post at amazon.com about God's Perfect Child (C. Frasier) and a reviewer said that the CS churches need to make a number of changes and drop the lesson sermon and go to a real sermon; modernize the hymnal; update the musical arrangements and just come into the 21st century. I agree 100%.
So no, I don't see the changes you're talking about.
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Posted Sunday, May 18, 2003 6:11 AM
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I used to live in St. Louis ten years ago which is where I first started in Christian Science. St. Louis as you know is very conservative. Come to the east coast and you will see the changes! The church I'm talking about is in Maryland. I've heard people talk of churches in Florida where these types of things are also going on. About changing the service--hymns, etc., that can't change.
There is an independent Christian Science church at www.plainfieldhealingthougths.com. Caroline Fraser talks about this church in her book. For those of you want true Christian Science where the members are allowed to take medicine this church may be what you're looking for. They have live services on the web. They sound very loving.
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Posted Sunday, May 18, 2003 6:43 AM
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Posted Sunday, May 18, 2003 6:51 AM
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The CS services can't be changed -- they are locked into their current order via the Manual -- which can only be changed with MBE's approval. Might be a little hard to get these days!
I think a lot of churches are doing meetings outside the Sunday/Wednesday formulas that a lot of us familiar with CS are used to. My grandmother and I also went up to the CS's exhibit on MBE at Seneca Falls, NY, a while back. This is the location where the first women's conference for suffrage and other rights was held in 1844. The local church has an exhibit dedicated to MBE and what they see as her early, pioneering works for women. We weren't able to go inside -- it was closed the day we were there, but there were a lot of references to MBE's attainments as a founder of a religion during the 1800s, etc. I think this was an effort to show that she had appeal to people outside the CS church.
So yes, I think the CS church is attempting to do a makeover to stay current with the times. Of course, this is nothing new. I remember seeing the changes in the Journal and Sentinel formats to make them more modern back in the early 70s. There was a lot of flack over that at the time, I believe.
I don't advocate CS, but in fairness, a lot of churches these days are doing things along the same lines to stay in touch with today's trends.
My grandmother wants to go see the new MBE library that TMC has put together. If we ever get time to get over there, I'll let you know what it's like.
Cheers!
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Posted Sunday, May 18, 2003 2:49 PM
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That's pretty interesting. If one studies the CS periodicals from their inception to the present, one finds a number of changes in format and the substance of their content occuring during distinct periods in the Church's history. The new format which is designed to appeal to those who know nothing about CS is on the "milky" side.
As you mentioned many churches outside of CS are changing, even the synagogues. I visited a synagogue a few years back with a friend. After the service the rabbi told us of his concern that people are going to the "new age" religions/therapies. It appears that CS is trying to appeal to the "new agers" or mind/body crowd. But I don't see many converts, though.
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Posted Monday, May 19, 2003 12:16 PM
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The latest news I've heard is that now the Mother Church is letting anyone take the 12 Lesson Course called Primary Class Instruction. An article appeared in a recent May 2003 issue of their Sentinel publication. It didn't exactly make it an announcement but was strongly implied in an article talking about healing in Christian Science where several people from various backgrounds including a black presbyterian pastor took this class.
This is sure to create a stir in the church. I can't wait till their policy of openness to other religions includes inviting articles on the New Thought Movement which includes Unity, Religious Science, Divine Science, and others. I 'm sure lots of their members are already getting medical care, but I won't be surprised if they become a lot more open about this, too.
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Posted Friday, May 23, 2003 5:05 PM
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I visited a Christian Science Reading Room in Northern Virginia this past week. The attendant was clearly a senior citizen. She told me her branch church is now allowing those who chose to get medical care to become members of their branch church. She was upset, but was aware that there was nothing she could do about this. In the past I've visited their branch church and noticed that it has a small congregation. It will be interesting to see if this will help boost this branch church's membership.
I also visited a large Unity church about 10 miles away. Unity sure believes in growth and prosperity! This church even holds Tai Chi classes, prosperity classes, Youth activities, Singles get-togethers, and sells incense and crystals in its bookstore! I wonder if the Mother Church is trying to follow the Unity approach. Unity has no problem getting people to come to its services and join its churches.
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Posted Tuesday, May 27, 2003 2:15 PM
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I see a number of negative and detrimental changes occuring at the Mother Church. I received a newsletter today from the Office of the Treasurer, The First Church of Christ Scientist, in Boston, MA entitled "Gifts". This newsletter elaborated support for the Mission Activities of the Mother Church (TMC) including donations to The Christian Science Monitor and the website at www.spirituality.com.
Besides the alarming information Caroline Fraser provides us in her book "God's Perfect Child", I wanted to find out first hand why anyone should support the above missionary efforts. I contacted one of the Gift Planning Managers at TMC who informed me of the many millions of dollars the Monitor is in deficit each year. The website www.csmonitor.com is attracting many visitors--large demand, but these vistitors are providing little supply. Most online newspapers are in this same position. The website spirituality.com is hardly what one would call Christian Science. It has a lot of new age viewpoints. The Mother Church does its best to camouflage that this site is run by Christian Scientist. The Gift Planning Manager told me it is reaching lots of people who are turned off by traditional religion. She told me people in the workplace are finding many useful acticles to help them in business situations.
The bottom line is that neither of these publications can support themselves. The Gift Planning Manager informed me that the only publication they have that is self-supporting is the full-text Quarterly! What would MBE do about this dire situation? In concluding our conversation, the Gift Planning Manager told me that they are continuing these efforts "for the higher Good." All I could say is that "we'll see what that will brings."
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Posted Monday, June 02, 2003 10:23 PM
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