World Religions Overview
Understanding Christian Science: Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health, Prayer, Spiritual Healing, the Mother Church, and Medical Controversy
Christian Science is a religious movement founded by Mary Baker Eddy that teaches spiritual healing through prayer and the understanding of God’s spiritual laws. This guide explains its origins, beliefs, worship, Reading Rooms, practitioners, healing ministry, and the public controversy surrounding medicine and prayer.
What Is Christian Science?
Christian Science is a religious movement founded by Mary Baker Eddy in the nineteenth century. It teaches that the healing works of Christ Jesus were not limited to the past but reveal spiritual laws of God that can still be understood and practiced today.
Christian Science is centered on the Bible, especially the teachings and healings of Jesus, and on Eddy’s major book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. Christian Scientists commonly describe their faith as a practical Christianity of prayer, spiritual understanding, moral transformation, and healing.
This article is written as a neutral educational overview. Christian Science should not be confused with Scientology. Christian Science is a nineteenth-century Christian healing movement founded by Mary Baker Eddy; Scientology is a twentieth-century movement founded by L. Ron Hubbard.
Christian Science worship and study center on the Bible and Mary Baker Eddy’s Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.
Quick Facts About Christian Science
These quick facts provide a simple starting point for understanding Christian Science.
Religion TypeChristian healing movement / new religious movement
FounderMary Baker Eddy
Key TextScience and Health with Key to the Scriptures
Known ForPrayer-based healing, Reading Rooms, the Mother Church, spiritual interpretation
Interactive Learning Path
Click each card to reveal a short explanation.
1. God
Christian Science emphasizes God as wholly good.
Christian Science commonly describes God through terms such as divine Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, and Love.
2. Prayer
Prayer is central to Christian Science practice.
Prayer is understood not mainly as pleading with God but as spiritual understanding that aligns thought with divine Truth and Love.
3. Healing
Healing is a major sign of spiritual truth.
Christian Science teaches that the healings of Jesus show spiritual laws that can still transform sickness, sin, fear, and suffering.
4. Textbook
Science and Health is the main textbook.
Mary Baker Eddy’s Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures explains Christian Science teachings and is read alongside the Bible.
Visual Guide to Christian Science
These images help readers connect the article’s ideas to real Christian Science places, people, books, and public resources.
Mary Baker Eddy
Founder of Christian Science and author of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.
Bible and Textbook
The Bible and Science and Health are read together in Christian Science worship and study.
The Mother Church
The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston is the central church organization of the movement.
Reading Rooms
Reading Rooms provide public access to Christian Science literature, Bible study resources, and church information.
Mary Baker Eddy is known in Christian Science as Discoverer, Founder, and Leader of the movement.
History and Origins of Christian Science
Christian Science began with Mary Baker Eddy, a New England religious thinker, writer, and healer. Christian Science presents itself as a discovery Eddy made in 1866, rooted in the Bible and the healing ministry of Christ Jesus.
In 1875, Eddy published Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, which became the central textbook of Christian Science. The book presents her interpretation of Christianity, healing, prayer, matter, mind, sin, sickness, and spiritual reality.
Eddy later founded the Church of Christ, Scientist, and established a movement that included branch churches, Christian Science practitioners, publications, Reading Rooms, and eventually The Christian Science Monitor.
Core Beliefs and Ideas in Christian Science
Christian Science uses Christian terms but interprets them through a distinctive spiritual metaphysics. It stresses the reality of God, Spirit, divine Mind, Truth, and Love, while treating evil, sin, sickness, and matter differently than traditional Christianity does.
God as Divine Mind
Christian Science often describes God as Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, and Love. God is understood as infinite good and ultimate reality.
Christ Jesus
Jesus is honored as the highest example of spiritual understanding and healing, revealing the divine Principle that overcomes sin, sickness, and death.
Spiritual Reality
Christian Science teaches that Spirit is real and eternal, while material conditions are understood as errors or false beliefs to be corrected by Truth.
Prayer and Healing
Prayer is central. Christian Science teaches that spiritual understanding can heal sickness, reform character, and overcome fear.
Sin and Error
Sin is understood as error, false belief, and separation from divine Truth, needing correction through spiritual awakening and moral transformation.
The Bible and Science and Health
Christian Science reads the Bible through Eddy’s interpretive framework, with Science and Health serving as the movement’s primary textbook.
A helpful way to understand Christian Science is to see it as a Christian healing movement centered on spiritual reality, divine Mind, prayer, the example of Jesus, and Mary Baker Eddy’s interpretation of Scripture.
Prayer, Healing, and Christian Science Practice
Healing is one of the clearest marks of Christian Science. The church teaches that Christ Jesus’ healings reveal spiritual laws of God that are reliable, understandable, and practical. Christian Science presents prayer as a way of understanding and relying on those spiritual laws.
Christian Scientists usually approach health and suffering through prayer, turning to God as wholly good and seeking spiritual clarity, peace, moral renewal, and healing.
Common Christian Science Healing Practices
- Prayer rooted in spiritual understanding rather than fear
- Reading and studying the Bible and Science and Health
- Rejecting sickness, sin, and fear as ultimate realities
- Seeking help from a Christian Science practitioner
- Testifying to healings in Wednesday meetings or publications
- Practicing moral reform, gratitude, forgiveness, and spiritual discipline
The Bible and Science and Health are used together in Christian Science worship, study, prayer, and healing practice.
Worship, Churches, and Reading Rooms
Christian Science worship is simpler and more text-centered than many churches. Services are usually led by Readers rather than ordained clergy. The Bible and Science and Health are read together as the sermon.
Sunday Services
Sunday worship typically includes hymns, prayer, Scripture, readings from Science and Health, and a Bible Lesson sermon.
Wednesday Meetings
Wednesday testimony meetings include readings and opportunities for attendees to share healings, gratitude, and spiritual experiences.
Readers
Christian Science churches usually do not have traditional ordained pastors. Services are conducted by First and Second Readers.
Reading Rooms
Christian Science Reading Rooms are public spaces where people can read, study, ask questions, and purchase or access Christian Science literature.
Practitioners
Christian Science practitioners are individuals who devote themselves to prayer-based healing work and may be contacted for spiritual treatment.
The Mother Church
The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston is known as the Mother Church and serves as the movement’s central church organization.
The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston is commonly known as the Mother Church.
The Mother Church and Christian Science Organization
The Mother Church in Boston is the central church of Christian Science. Branch churches around the world are locally organized but connected to the wider Christian Science movement.
The movement also includes Christian Science Reading Rooms, publications, lectures, practitioners, nurses, periodicals, and online resources that teach and promote Christian Science healing.
Unlike many churches built around ordained clergy and sacraments, Christian Science worship is centered on reading, prayer, healing testimony, and the study of the Bible with Science and Health.
Medical Care, Prayer, and Public Controversy
Christian Science is widely known for its emphasis on prayer-based healing rather than conventional medical treatment. Many Christian Scientists turn first to prayer and may rely on Christian Science practitioners for spiritual treatment.
This has created public controversy, especially in cases involving children, serious illness, preventable death, medical neglect claims, and legal questions about religious freedom and parental responsibility.
A balanced explanation should recognize that Christian Scientists understand their practice as sincere Christian healing, while also acknowledging that critics, physicians, courts, and former members have raised serious concerns when prayer is used instead of medical care in urgent or treatable conditions.
This article is not medical advice. Anyone facing a medical emergency, serious illness, child illness, injury, infection, or worsening symptoms should seek qualified medical help immediately.
Christian Science Reading Rooms provide public access to Christian Science books, Bible study materials, periodicals, and information about prayer-based healing.
Christian Science and Christianity
Christian Science identifies itself as Christian and strongly emphasizes the Bible, Jesus Christ, prayer, healing, and moral transformation. Mary Baker Eddy is honored within the movement as its Discoverer, Founder, and Leader.
At the same time, many Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christians classify Christian Science as outside historic orthodox Christianity because of its distinctive views of matter, sin, sickness, evil, the atonement, death, resurrection, and the nature of ultimate reality.
A fair comparison should state both realities clearly: Christian Scientists see themselves as following Christ Jesus’ healing Christianity, while traditional Christian theology often rejects Christian Science metaphysics as inconsistent with biblical and historic doctrine.
Texts, Publications, and Public Voice
Christian Science has a strong publishing tradition. Mary Baker Eddy authored multiple books, with Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures as the central text. The movement also publishes periodicals, Bible Lessons, lectures, and news material.
These publications help explain the movement’s view of prayer, healing, Scripture, spiritual reality, and Christian practice.
Christian Science Reading Rooms make the movement’s books, periodicals, Bible Lessons, and study resources publicly available.
The Bible
Christian Science uses the Bible as a central source, especially the healing ministry of Jesus and the spiritual meaning of Scripture.
Science and Health
Eddy’s primary textbook explains Christian Science theology, healing, prayer, and spiritual interpretation of the Bible.
Christian Science Quarterly
The Quarterly provides Bible Lessons used in individual study and Sunday church services.
Christian Science Sentinel
The Sentinel publishes articles and testimonies about prayer, healing, and Christian Science practice.
The Christian Science Journal
The Journal includes articles, testimonies, directories, and resources connected with the healing practice.
The Christian Science Monitor
The Monitor is an international news organization founded by Mary Baker Eddy, known for journalism rather than church doctrine.
Christian Science presents healing as rooted in spiritual understanding, prayer, and the Bible as interpreted through Science and Health.
How the Images Connect to the Article
Christian Science is best understood through its founding figure, its central texts, its worship spaces, and its public Reading Rooms. Together, these images show that the movement is not simply an abstract idea about healing, but a visible religious tradition with churches, books, study practices, and organized communities.
The added visuals also help readers distinguish Christian Science from Scientology, New Thought, general faith healing, and other modern religious movements that are sometimes confused with it.
Christian Science Around the World Today
Christian Science is smaller today than in its early twentieth-century peak, but it remains active through branch churches, Reading Rooms, practitioners, online services, publications, lectures, and individual healing practice.
The movement continues to appeal to people interested in prayer, spiritual healing, metaphysical Christianity, Bible study, and the relationship between thought, fear, disease, and spiritual reality.
Today, Christian Science remains a distinctive Christian healing movement that raises important questions about prayer, medicine, religious freedom, suffering, spiritual interpretation, and the meaning of Christ’s healing ministry.
Mini Quiz: Check Your Understanding
Choose the best answer below.
Which statement best describes Christian Science?
Frequently Asked Questions About Christian Science
What is Christian Science?
Christian Science is a religious movement founded by Mary Baker Eddy that teaches spiritual healing through prayer and the understanding of God’s spiritual laws, based especially on the Bible and Eddy’s Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.
Who founded Christian Science?
Christian Science was founded by Mary Baker Eddy, who said she discovered Christian Science in 1866 and later organized the Church of Christ, Scientist.
What is Science and Health?
Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures is the main textbook of Christian Science, written by Mary Baker Eddy and first published in 1875. It is read alongside the Bible in Christian Science worship and study.
Is Christian Science the same as Scientology?
No. Christian Science and Scientology are completely different movements. Christian Science was founded by Mary Baker Eddy in the nineteenth century and is centered on Christian healing through prayer. Scientology was founded by L. Ron Hubbard in the twentieth century and teaches a different system.
Do Christian Scientists use medicine?
Christian Scientists often turn first to prayer for healing and may seek help from Christian Science practitioners. Individual choices vary, but the movement is widely known for emphasizing spiritual healing rather than conventional medical treatment.
Is Christian Science considered orthodox Christianity?
Christian Scientists identify as Christian and emphasize the Bible and Jesus’ healing ministry. Many Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christians classify Christian Science outside historic orthodoxy because of its distinctive teachings about matter, sickness, sin, evil, death, and spiritual reality.
Helpful External Resources on Christian Science
These resources can help readers continue learning about Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, prayer-based healing, Reading Rooms, Science and Health, and the Church of Christ, Scientist.
ChristianScience.com: Official Introduction
The official Christian Science website introduces the movement, Mary Baker Eddy, spiritual healing, churches, and basic beliefs.
What a Christian Scientist Believes
An official explanation of Christian Science belief, spiritual laws, God, healing, prayer, and the teachings of Christ Jesus.
Christian Science Questions and Answers
An official press-room FAQ addressing Christian Science healing, health, prayer, church life, and public questions.
Wikimedia Commons: Science and Health and the Bible
A media resource showing the Bible and Science and Health, the two books central to Christian Science study and worship.
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