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Christian Science healing

Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine by Tish Davidson

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Many converts come to Christian Science through the demonstration of its power to heal. Traditionally, Wednesday night meetings are given over to healing testimony and witnessing of the healing power of God's truth.

Preparations

The purpose of Christian Science healing is not to free the body from disease, but to lead the patient to a higher spiritual understanding of God.

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Patients are best served if they are receptive to Christian Science beliefs and practices prior to the start of a healing session.

Precautions

There are no reasons other than disbelief or spiritual unreadiness not to participate in Christian Science healing. However, patients that do this must understand that they may be exacerbating their health problems by denying themselves access to traditional medical care.

Side effects

No side effects are reported from practicing Christian Science healing. There is, as noted above, danger posed by replacing traditional medical care with Christian Science practices in the case of serious illness.

Research & general acceptance

Christian Science healing is seen by the traditional medical community as quackery, since it denies any relationship between the physical universe and illness. It rejects the concepts of germs, contagion, and healing through the application of drugs.

All "proof" of the effectiveness of Christian Science healing is anecdotal. Many physicians believe that in certain cases of psychosomatic illness Christian Science healing may indeed bring about improvement in symptoms, but in diseases with a clear physical origin, it is ineffective.

Training & certification

The Church of Christ, Scientist recognizes some of its healers as official practitioners whose full-time job is healing. About 2,000 were in practice in the United States in 2000.

Key Terms

Psychosomatic illness: A condition in which unresolved emotional distress manifests as physical symptoms of illness.

For Your Information

Books

Eddy, Mary Baker. Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. Boston: Christian Science Publishing Company, 1875 (reprinted 1994).

Periodicals

Sheler, Jeffrey L. "Mrs. Eddy's House. U.S. News Online February 16, 1998. http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue980216/16eddy.htm.

Organizations

Church of Christ, Scientist. http://www.ChristianScience.org.

Other

The Mary Baker Eddy Library for the Betterment of Humanity. http://www.marybakereddy.org:86/.
Virtual Christian Science Reading Room. http://www.mtn.org.

Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Gale Group, 2001.