Christian Science – Religion of Unreality

Christian Science – Religion of Unreality

(The Devil Wears a White Hat.)

Christian Science is really just another man-made religion of “Denial”. The founder and false prophet Mary Baker Eddy just couldn’t face the truth. So she states “sin, sickness and death are just illusions” – and the fools rushed in.

What Christian Science says about the Source of Authority:¹ Their writings show that to them the Bible is NOT the soul source of authority!

“In the latter half of the nineteenth century I discovered the Science of Christianity. In 1895 I ordained that the Bible, and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, the Christian Science textbook, be the pastor, on this planet, of all the churches of the Christian Science denomination. Wherever and whenever a church of Christian Science is established, its pastor is the Bible and my book.” Mary Baker Eddy, Miscellaneous Writings (Boston: The Christian Science Publishing Society, 1896), pp. 382, 383.

“A student—in the tongue of the world called a patient—who says to the Scientist, ‘I take so much comfort in reading my Bible,’ if guided wisely, will be answered, ‘Let your Bible alone for three months or more. Don’t open it even, or think of it, but dig night and day at Science and Health’,” Christian Science Journal, October, 1890.

“No human pen nor tongue taught me the Science contained in this book, (p. 110)

“A Christian Scientist requires my work Science and Health for his textbook…because it is the voice of Truth to this age…Hence it gave the first rules for demonstrating this Science, and registered the revealed Truth uncontaminated by human hypotheses…” (pp. 456, 457)

“Christian Science is unerring and Divine…” (p. 99) The weekly sermon in all Christian Science churches consists of extracts from the Bible, and from Science and Health, read to the congregation. The First Reader reads from Science and Health. Then, the Second Reader reads those passages from the Bible.

The Truth: Mrs. Eddy is anxious to establish the point that she is the sole inventor of her new faith and teaching. In this admission she condemns herself as another in that long list of false prophets who run to teach their own thoughts without ever having been sent from God.

I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran; I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings. Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? Saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? Saith the Lord. I have heard what the prophets said, who prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? Yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart. (Jeremiah 23:21-26)

What Christian Science says about the Text: “The decisions by vote of Church Councils as to what should and should not be considered Holy Writ; the manifest mistakes in the ancient versions; the thirty thousand different readings in the Old Testament, and the three hundred thousand in the new—these facts show how a mortal and material sense stole into the divine record, with its own hue darkening to some extent the inspired page.” (p. 139)

The Truth: Jesus Christ Himself accepted the Old testament as God’s Word and He vouched for the new Testament which was to come—inspired by the Spirit of God.

Then He said unto them, O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses, and all the prophets, He expounded unto them, in all the Scriptures, the things concerning Himself. (Luke 24:25-27)

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16)

But the comforter, who is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Nevertheless, when He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth; for He shall not speak of Himself, but whatever He shall hear, that shall He speak; and He will show you things to come. (John 16:12-14)

Mrs. Eddy, fortunately or unfortunately, knows little of the subject of textual criticism and her words reflect gross misunderstandings concerning the state and the preservation by God of the texts of Holy Writ.—Gary G. Cohen, Th.D.

What Christian Science says about the Trinity: “The theory of three persons in one God (that is, a personal Trinity or Tri-unity) suggests polytheism, rather than the one ever-present I AM.” (p. 256)

“The spiritual Christ was infallible; Jesus, as material manhood, was not Christ.” (p. 84, Misc. Writings)

The Truth: The Bible, not man’s invention, presents God as One God, in Three Persons—the Tri-unity or Trinity.

Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the son, and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)

Christian Science’s denial of the reality of matter has driven it to deny that Jesus even came in a real body. John labeled this an Antichrist heresy.

By this know ye the spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God; and this is the spirit of antichrist, of which ye have heard that it should come, and even now already is it in the world. (I John 4:2-3)

What Christian Science says about Miracles: “The miracles recorded in the Scriptures illustrate the life of Jesus as nothing else can…We learn somewhat of the qualities of the divine Mind through the human Jesus…”

The Principle of these marvelous works is divine; but the actor was human…The so-called miracles contained in Holy Writ are neither supernatural nor preternatural; for God is good, and goodness is more natural than evil…” (p. 199, Misc. Writings)

“…the so-called pains and pleasures of matter were alike unreal to Jesus; for he regarded matter as only a vagary of mortal belief, and subdued it with this understanding.” (p. 200, Misc. Writings)

The Truth: Jesus miraculously turned water into real wine, and it tasted real because it was real. No mass hypnosis or thought illusion, as Christian Scientists claim, can account for the water-to-wine miracle.

When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not from where it was (but the servants who drew the water knew), the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine and, when men have well drunk, then that which is worse; but thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana, of Galilee, and manifested forth His glory; and His disciples believed on Him. (John 2:9-11)

What Christian Science says about Salvation: “Wisdom and Love may require many sacrifices of self to save us from sin. One sacrifice, however great, is insufficient to pay the debt of sin.” (p. 23)

“That God’s wrath should be vented upon His beloved Son, is divinely unnatural. Such a theory is man-made.” (p.23)

“The spiritual essence of blood is sacrifice. The efficacy of Jesus’ spiritual offering is infinitely greater than can be expressed by our sense of human blood. The material blood of Jesus was no more efficacious to cleanse from sin when it was shed upon ‘the accursed tree,’ than when it was flowing in his veins as he went daily about his Father’s business,” (p.25)

Jesus did not suffer for our sins. “…suffering is an error of sinful sense…” (p. 23)

Jesus did not really die. “The lonely precincts of the tomb gave Jesus a refuge from his foes, a place in which to solve the great problem of being… He met and mastered on the basis of Christian Science, the power of Mind over matter, all the claims of medicine, surgery, and hygiene…”

“His disciples believed Jesus to be dead while he was hidden in the sepulcher, whereas he was alive.” (p. 44)

The Truth: Christ’s one sacrifice paid for the sins of all who trust in Him. Mrs. Eddy, in denying this, denies God’s plan of salvation.

And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering often the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God. (Hebrews 10:11-12)

Who is correct? God or Mrs. Eddy? The shedding of Christ’s blood for us paid for the believer’s sins.

…and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22)

And after the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood: this do, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me. (1 Corinthians 11:25)

Christian Scientists’ great desire to deny the reality of death has driven them to deny one of the foundation stones of Biblical Christianity, the substitutionary real death of Christ.

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father into thy hands I commend my spirit, and, having said this, He gave up the spirit. (Luke 23:46)

I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen, and have the keys of hades and of death. (Revelation 1:18)

I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep. (John 10:11)

What Christian Science says about Sickness and Death: “Sickness, disease, and death proceed from fear.” (p.260)

“…it is impossible for matter to suffer, to feel pain or heat, to be thirsty or sick. Destroy fear, and you end fever…” (p. 276)

“The cause of all so-called disease is mental…” (p. 377)

“Man is never sick, for Mind is not sick and matter cannot be.” (p. 393)

“Any material evidence of death is false, for it contradicts the spiritual facts of being.” (p. 584)

“In reality man never dies. The belief that he dies will not establish his scientific harmony. Death is not the result of Truth but of error, and one error will not correct another.” (p. 486)

“Life is real, and death is the illusion.” (p. 428)

"Matter and death are mortal illusions.” (p. 289)

The Truth: The Bible clearly affirms the real existence of matter, sickness, and death. Christian Science’s denial of these is a denial of reality, and hence a falsehood in pious garb.

Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I myself; handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have. (Luke 24:39)

And His disciples asked Him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

When he had thus spoken, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam (which is by interpretation, Sent). He went his way, therefore, and washed, and came seeing. (John 9: 2, 3, 6, 7)

Yet I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus…For, indeed, he was sick near unto death, but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. (Philippians 2:25, 27)

Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. (John 11:14)

What Christian Science says about the Hereafter: “The sin and error which possess us at the instant of death do not cease at the moment, but endure until the death of these errors.” (p. 290)

“Universal salvation rests on progression and probation, and is unattainable without them. Heaven is not a locality, but a divine state of Mind…”

“No final judgment awaits mortals, for the judgment-day of wisdom comes hourly and continually, even the judgment by which mortal man is divested of all material error.” (p. 291)

“Man’s probation after death is the necessity of his immortality; for good dies not and evil is self-destructive, therefore evil must be mortal and self-destroyed. If man should not progress after death, but should remain in error, he would be inevitably self-annihilated.” (Misc. Writings, p. 2)

The Truth: As with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christian Science falsely claims that those who “remain in error” after death… and do not perfect themselves in this purgatory or probation period… will be annihilated.

Mrs. Eddy’s statement that “no final judgment awaits mortals,” is in open opposition to the clear Biblical teaching on this subject.

When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall he sit upon the throne of His glory. And before Him shall be gathered all the nations; and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats. And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25: 31-33, 46)

What Christian Science says about the Second Coming: It is authentically said that one expositor of Daniel’s dates fixed the year 1866 or 1867 for the return of Christ—the return of the spiritual idea to the material earth or antipode of heaven. It is a marked coincidence that those dates were the first two years of my discovery of Christian Science.” (Miscellany, p. 181) [antipode: direct or exact opposite]

“According to popular belief, the ‘second coming’ is generally interpreted as the reappearance of Jesus on earth, and Mrs. Eddy is the first person in history to controvert this theory.

She has shown conclusively that the ‘second coming’ refers not to the reappearance of the human Jesus, but to the discovery of the Christ, ‘The divine manifestation of God, which comes to the flesh to destroy incarnate error.’

Christ, Truth, is the Holy Ghost or divine Comforter which Jesus said would come.

Jesus manifested the ‘first coming’ of the Christ to mankind, and Mary Baker Eddy’s discovery of Christian Science (the Comforter) has completely fulfilled the Biblical prophecy of the ‘second coming.’” Irving C. Tomlinson, Twelve Years with Mary Baker Eddy, (Boston: The Christian Science Publishing Society, 1945), p. 13.

The Truth: For Mrs. Eddy to suggest that her “discovery of Christian Science” should be equated to the promised Second Coming of Christ is nothing less than blasphemous. Jesus’ return will be an actual reality—and He will return in the same body in which He was crucified.”

And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Who also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:10-11)

For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (I Thessalonians 4:16-17)

^[1] All page numbers documented under Christian Science are from Eddy’s book “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” unless otherwise stated.

On the one hand…since Christian Scientists believe sin is not real, to them salvation comes from getting rid of false beliefs. “Man is incapable of sin, sickness and death.” (p. 475)

To the question: If God made all that was made, and it was good, where did evil originate?

Mrs. Eddy answers: “It never originated or existed as an entity. It is but a false belief.” (Misc. Writings, p. 45)

Yet it becomes necessary for the sinner to repent of sin according to Mary Baker Eddy’s statements: “Only those, who repent of sin and forsake the unreal, can fully understand the unreality of evil.” (p. 339)

“The way to escape the misery of sin is to cease sinning. There is no other way.” (p. 327)

Mrs. Eddy’s ability to shift from one position to another makes it even impossible for Christian Scientists to determine how their salvation is achieved. As Anthony A. Hoekema wrote in his excellent book, The Four Major Cults, “We conclude that for Christian Scientists salvation from sin is accomplished when one ceases to sin, or when one stops believing that there is such a thing as sin. In either event, the death of Christ has nothing to do with salvation; if Christ had never existed, it would have made no real difference.”

“It is highly significant that whenever Jesus and Mrs. Eddy disagree (as, for example, on the matter of the reality of disease), it is Jesus who is wrong and Mrs. Eddy who is right.”

Anthony A. Hoekema, The Four Major Cults, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1963), pp. 204, 212.

“H.R. Haldeman, a former cabinet member for President Nixon, developed a stomach ailment which lasted for weeks. His son, Peter, reports that Haldeman was so sick that he could only eat ice chips. He died under Christian Science care and without ever seeking medical help. Feeling that the press might become interested in the event, his family negotiated with the coroner to list a cause of death which would not be damaging to Christian Science.” Peter Haldeman, Growing Up Haldeman (New York Times, 2 April 1994)

For more Biblical comparisons order the book “Mind Science Cults” from us for $6.95. It exposes Christian Science, the Unity School of Christianity, and Religious Science. There is another problem with Christian Science, however. It is truly a mind-control cult. Many have suffered and died because they were unable to break this bondage and think for themselves. We also highly recommend the book, “The Religion That Kills –Christian Science: Abuse, Neglect and Mind Control” by Dr. Linda Cramer. The author was a Christian Scientist for 30 years until she found freedom (269 pages). You may order it from us by sending a $9.00 donation to Jesus People Information Center, 4338 Third Ave. Sacramento, CA 95817. This book sells for $14.95 plus tax. Our discount on this book is temporary.