Church of Christ, Scientist facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of Christ, Scientist |
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The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston, the church's administrative headquarters
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| Classification | Christian new religious movement Restorationist |
| Orientation | Nontrinitarianism |
| Scripture | Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures and Bible |
| Region | United States |
| Founder | Mary Baker Eddy |
| Origin | 1879 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Congregations | approximately 1750 worldwide (1,153 in US as of 2010) |
| Members | estimates range from around 400,000 to under 100,000. |
The Church of Christ, Scientist is a Christian church. It was started in 1879 in Boston, Massachusetts, by Mary Baker Eddy. She wrote a book called Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. The church was founded to remember the teachings and actions of Christ Jesus. It also aimed to bring back early Christian practices, especially healing through faith.
In the early 1900s, Christian Science churches opened all over the world. However, in the later part of that century, fewer people joined the church in most places. But in Africa, the number of members grew. The main office of the church is in Boston. The church does not share its official membership numbers. Experts guess that there are between 100,000 and 400,000 members worldwide. In 2010, there were 1,153 churches in the United States.
Contents
How the Church Started
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The Church of Christ, Scientist was officially formed by Mary Baker Eddy in 1879. This happened after she said she experienced a personal healing in 1866. She believed this healing came from reading the Bible. The Bible and Mary Baker Eddy's book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, are the two main sources for the church's teachings. They are considered the church's "dual impersonal pastor" or spiritual guides.
The First Church of Christ, Scientist also publishes a weekly newspaper. It is called The Christian Science Monitor. You can read it in print or online.
What Christian Scientists Believe and Do
Christian Scientists believe that prayer can help heal illnesses. The Church has collected many stories, over 50,000, about people who say they were healed through Christian Science treatment alone. Most of these stories are about problems that were not checked or treated by doctors. However, for any story to be published in the church's official magazines, like the Christian Science Journal or Christian Science Sentinel, three other people must confirm it. These people say they saw the healing happen or know the person well enough to confirm their story.
Christian Science Practitioners
A Christian Science practitioner is someone who spends all their time praying for others. They do not use medicines or give medical advice. Christian Scientists can take a special two-week "Primary" class. This class is taught by an approved Christian Science teacher. People who want to become "Journal-listed" practitioners must first take this Primary class. These practitioners work full-time to help others through prayer. When they have a history of helping people heal, they can ask to have their names listed in the Christian Science Journal directory.
A practitioner who has been listed for at least three years can apply for "Normal" class instruction. This class is offered once every three years. Those who complete it can then become authorized teachers. Both the Primary and Normal classes are based on the Bible and Mary Baker Eddy's writings. The Primary class focuses on a chapter called "Recapitulation" in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. This chapter uses a question-and-answer style of teaching. The "Normal" class focuses on the main ideas of Christian Science, found in Science and Health.
How the Church is Organized
The First Church of Christ, Scientist is the official name of the main church. It is also called The Mother Church. This is where the church's main offices are located. The Mary Baker Eddy Library for the Betterment of Humanity is in a tall building nearby. This building was first built for The Christian Science Publishing Society.
The Christian Science Monitor
An international newspaper, The Christian Science Monitor, is published by the church. Mary Baker Eddy started it in 1908. This newspaper has won seven Pulitzer Prizes. It is published through the Christian Science Publishing Society.
Board of Directors
The Christian Science Board of Directors is a group of five people. They are in charge of running the business of the Christian Science Church. Mary Baker Eddy created this group. Their duties are explained in the church's rule book, the Church Manual.
See also
- Christian Science Reading Room
- Reader (Christian Science Church)
- Jewish Science
- List of Christian Scientists (religious denomination)
- List of Former Christian Science Churches, Societies and Buildings
- Principia College, a college for Christian Scientists in Elsah, Illinois
- Commonwealth v. Twitchell
