The work of my lifetime

Christian Science 
as I see it

By Cynthia Barnett

Christian Science has been in my family for four generations, but I’ve always known it would have been the right religion for me even if I had not “inherited” it. I love Christian Science because it gives me a God I can accept from both reason and revelation. Relying on it all my life for guidance, comfort, inspiration, and healing, I have not been disappointed. It works.

Mary Baker Eddy
[Public Domain]

    People often confuse Christian Science with Scientology, but there is no connection. Christian Science is a Bible-based Christian religion founded in 1879 by Mary Baker Eddy [as Church of Christ, Scientist]. Her seminal work is Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, published in 1875 and written for anyone and everyone, whatever faith or no faith. Eddy established her church later, believing it was the best way to preserve the teachings of her text, which included a radical new perspective on health – that it was tied inseparably to spirituality. Testimonies from early readers who were healed simply by reading the book were included at the end of later editions. Current authenticated testimonies of healing are now published in the weekly Christian Science Sentinel and monthly Christian Science Journal.

Christian Scientists are dedicated to learning more about the ultimate Good, or God, as religions call this power. This Good (God) is far above mere human good, which can sometimes be limited and adulterated by ego or a personal sense of things. Through humble prayer, another term for our deepest and best thinking, we connect more clearly with this infinite Good, our divine source. In these holy moments of communion wonderful things happen: we hear and are receptive to new ideas which solve our problems; we feel greater love for others; we gain confidence in expanding our abilities; we even experience healing of physical and mental challenges. Praying in this way has brought all these blessings to me at one time or another. I feel my prayers are being answered.
    Christian Scientists seek to know more of “God’s Reality” as I like to call it, instead of mere human reality as it appears. We humans define reality as it is perceived through our physical senses, and also through other mortals’ opinions of things, even world beliefs. These senses and opinions may report good news or more often terrible things. War, chaos, hatred, and suffering of every kind seem to abound.

But what does God see? What is His/Her Reality? Christian Science finds instruction in the first chapter of Genesis where the Creator “saw everything He had made and…it was very good.” And we were created in His image and likeness, says the same text. Christian Scientists are also inspired by the lives of Moses and the prophets, and particularly by the example of Christ Jesus, who “saw” men and women as the children of God in their original perfection. With this radical spiritual insight, Jesus healed. No wonder this wonderful man became known as the Savior – the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the Anointed. Jesus promised and expected his followers to heal in some measure as he did.

To be a Christian Scientist is the work of a lifetime. It takes a lifetime to even begin to understand God, Good, Love. It takes consistent and persistent willingness to challenge the evidence of the material senses to see God’s Reality so clearly that this alone becomes our experience. Most of us don’t expect to walk on water or raise the dead at this point, but we are making a start with wonderful demonstrations of God’s love and care. In my lifetime I have sought a medical solution only once, so effective has been prayer as my first resort in illness situations. All these years I have otherwise needed not a single drug or medical intervention. Not even vitamins. I have been healed of knee problems, numbness in my hands, a diagnosed ulcer on my eye, and complications in childbirth. Christian Science has shown me how to forgive others, how to be more patient and kind, and it has even brought a greater sense of financial well-being. I am so grateful to have been introduced to Christian Science.

Copyright © 2018 by Cynthia Barnett Like many Americans today, Cynthia Barnett has had four careers: first as a high school English teacher; then as director of public affairs for the State of North Carolina’s Chamber of Commerce; then as the executive director for a statewide writers’ organization; and finally as spokesperson for Christian Science in North Carolina. She has also published many online and print articles on the subject of spirituality and health. Perhaps her most rewarding careers have been as wife, mother, and now grandmother to three wonderful kids.