A unique blend of spirituality and idealism, emphasizing healing through prayer and understanding the mental nature of disease.
Religion: Christianity
Denomination: Christian Science
Founder: Mary Baker Eddy
Founded: 1879
Location: Worldwide, with a significant presence in the United States
Size: 100,000 (2008)
Other Names: Church of Christ, Scientist; Eddyism
Website: christianscience.com
Christian Science, also referred to as the Church of Christ, Scientist, is a distinct religious movement founded in 1879 by Mary Baker Eddy in the United States that roots itself deeply in the teachings of its seminal work, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures authored by Eddy in 1875. Central to their theology is the belief in spiritual healing, viewing disease as a mental error rather than a physical disorder, which should be treated through prayer rather than medicine. This perspective is based on a radical form of philosophical idealism, asserting that reality is purely spiritual, and the material world is an illusion.
Mary Baker Eddy’s journey to founding Christian Science began amid personal misfortune and ill health, leading her to explore various healing methods, including homeopathy, hydrotherapy, and the teachings of Phineas Parkhurst Quimby, a charismatic healer. Her time with Quimby solidified her belief in the mental nature of disease and propelled her own exploration into New Testament healing narratives. Her pivotal moment came in 1866, following a severe injury, when Eddy turned to the Bible and claimed to have discovered the laws of spiritual healing. This experience laid the groundwork for her development of Christian Science theology and its practices.
The Church of Christ, Scientist was officially established in 1879, with Eddy and 26 followers obtaining a charter from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The construction of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, followed in 1894, serving as the central hub for the religion. Christian Science quickly became the fastest-growing religion in the United States during the early 20th century, although its membership has seen a decline from nearly 270,000 members in 1936 to fewer than 50,000 by 2009.
Christian Science’s approach to health and disease has been controversial, particularly its reliance on prayer over medical treatment. The church does not forbid medical care—allowing for the use of dentists, optometrists, and necessary vaccinations—but maintains that Christian Science prayer is most effective when not combined with medicine. However, this stance has led to legal and ethical debates, especially when the refusal of medical treatment has resulted in fatalities.
Aside from its unique theological beliefs, Christian Science is also known for its contributions to journalism through the publication of The Christian Science Monitor, which has received multiple Pulitzer Prizes. The movement also established public Reading Rooms around the world, aiming to provide resources for spiritual study and exploration.
Christian Science’s foundational beliefs—especially its view on the illusory nature of the material world and the centrality of spiritual healing—reflect a broader interest in metaphysical concepts and the mind’s power over physical conditions. This movement, along with others such as Divine Science and the Unity School of Christianity, belongs to what is known as the metaphysical family, drawing on various philosophical traditions including Platonic, Hindu, and Transcendentalist thought. Central to these beliefs is the idea that life and reality are fundamentally mental or spiritual, not physical, and that healing comes from aligning one’s thoughts with Divine Mind or Truth.
