Influence of Christian Science

Chapter 11 of this month's book addresses the influence of Mary Baker Eddy on medicine. Eddy's influence can only be assessed as it coincides with her discovery of Christian Science, which of course constituted her life-work -- a mission from which she never swerved. It was not a personal influence. She wrote that: 'One must fulfil one's mission without timidity or dissimulation, for to be well done, the work must be done unselfishly' (Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures p. 483). No-one could say that she ever worked selfishly, and she certainly rejected timidity or pretence in pursuit of her spiritual mission. As influential biographer Robert Peel noted '...spiritual-mindedness rather than brilliance of intellect must be the essential prerequisite to discovering the Science of Christianity' (p. 11). Thus, whatever influence may be felt as the result of Eddy's discovery, it is the result of her allegiance to her God-inspired spiritual mission to bless the world.

Writing in 1966, one hundred years after Mrs. Eddy's discovery of Christian Science, John M. Tutt has written a thoroughly engaging essay about Mrs. Eddy and her influence on medicine. The following passage gives pause for thought:

     'By its infinite nature, God's thought, though complete, is never ended. Christian Science therefore is more than mere impact upon human consciousness and life. It is influence. It is a sustained inflowing of power to effect change for the better, to reverse false laws of matter and uphold true laws of Spirit' (p. 99, Mary Baker Eddy: A Centennial Appreciation).

The effect of the 'power to effect change' is often felt in stirred thought, and this stirring is explained in a recent article in the Christian Science Sentinel May 20, 2019, where Laura Remmerde writes that what she was learning and loving about Christian Science clashed with 'theological concepts from [her] youth'.^ She therefore 'began attending a church of another Christian denomination on a regular basis. However, at home [she] still read the weekly Bible Lesson found in the Christian Science Quarterly, unwilling to completely leave what [she] had found so wonderful.' In proof that God shepherds each of us in the way that's best for each of us, the pastor at that church confided that he 'often turned to the Christian Science Bible Lessons for inspiration'. At that point, Laura returned to Christian Science church services.

John Tutt tells us that 'Mrs. Eddy grew up in an atmosphere of orthodox religion and medicine' but the results of both were not encouraging. She struggled with health and other issues for many years until her great discovery. In her book Science & Health, she wrote: 'The medicine of Science is divine Mind...' (p. 104).

As mentioned in Joyce's post yesterday, Tutt also looks at the Greek word for 'medicine' (pharmakon) and notes that 'material medicine has always been built upon matter and the material so-called mind' (p. 101. On the other hand, writes Tutt, 'Christ Jesus' religion and medicine were one and based on Spirit, not matter; on the divine Mind... His psychology was not a sound mind in a sound body but a sound body in a sound Mind...' (p. 103, emphasis added).

Tutt had trained to be a medical doctor, but 'found himself tied to the theory that matter devours its own progeny...' (ibid). (I wonder if this was what Abraham discovered when he was halted from slaying his son Isaac (see Genesis 22) -- he found a much happier alternative.)

I love where Tutt writes: 'There is not an item of food in the kitchen, pantry, or on the dining table that probably is not or has not been a medicine in the apothecary shop. Even water can be so regarded, as well as climate, height, depth, sea, mountain, and desert.

'The conclusion is inescapable that medicine is not matter. Medicine is comprised wholly in mental consent' (p. 104).'

When I picked up this book again after many years of having it on my bookshelf, I wondered if it would be out of date. After all, the articles were written 53 years ago. However, it seems to me that they are pointing the way forward, and consideration of their ideas lifts thought into spiritual, rather than human realms.

Julie Swannell

^ Readers may have noted similar sentiments expressed on page 13 of our book by Robert Peel, where he writes: '...the whole entrenched belief of life in matter seemed to concentrate itself in outraged opposition to the message and the messenger'.

An important book

Last evening I didn't think I could put anything together.  Look what happened in the light of morning.

Book club – Mary Baker Eddy: A Centennial Appreciation

I have finished reading the book, and made notes of points that stood out to me. I will now go back and consult the notes in the hope that I will regain

Some dates clarified

Yesterday's blog post misstated some facts and has now been corrected. Here is a clarification.

Mary Baker Eddy discovered Christian Science in 1866. This month's book, Mary Baker Eddy: A Centennial Appreciation, is

Christian Science and the natural sciences

One hundred years after the discovery of Christian Science in 1866, physical scientist F. Karl Willenbrock penned the article 'Mary Baker Eddy: Her influence upon science' which appears as chapter 9 (pages 79 - 85) of this month's Reading Room Book Club book, Mary Baker Eddy: A Centennial Appreciation, published in 1966. A little research on the website jsh-online.com uncovers some details about Mr. Willenbrock. He earned his doctorate at Harvard University and then joined the faculty and became Associate Dean of Engineering and Applied Physics.

In an 1969 interview article in the Christian Science Sentinel dated Sept 27 and titled An Interview: About the Physical Sciences, he is quoted as saying:

  'The physical sciences are concerned with matter; they are matter-based and matter-oriented. They are not related to the ethical, moral, or spiritual. There's nothing in the methodology of the natural sciences telling you it's good to love your neighbor or it's good to listen to divine Mind's directives to man.

   '...Spiritual substance is not quantifiable, while the physical sciences are concerned with quantifiable things. Of course, there are some people who think that science has all the answers. This is a dangerous concept, which some of the very early natural scientists subscribed to. I'd say most of today's natural scientists are more well-informed.

   '...It's been helpful to remind myself that when I'm talking about the physical sciences I mean physical sense testimony, a limited human framework, unreliable when it comes to spiritual things.'

And so, in his 1966 article about the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, Willenbrock wrote: 'In the one hundred years since the discovery of Christian Science, tremendous changes have occurred

'taught of God'

From time to time, we may be called upon to teach something to another. It may be teaching children in our care to observe table manners. It may be teaching the one taking over a role we have served in, the lessons we have learned while in that role. A Sunday School might need additional teachers. Some are already teachers by profession. And we are all at some point needing to be a learner -- to learn new skills (who doesn't?) We may wonder how this process works best and what particular qualities support clear instruction and receptive learning.

Christian Science practice involves both teaching and learning, and the teaching process follows the example of the master Teacher, Christ Jesus. We know that Jesus' methods involved using examples from everyday life that would make sense to his listeners, for instance parables such as sowing seed. He also demonstrated what he was talking about by healing. 

In the book Mary Baker Eddy: A Centennial Appreciation, author DeWitt John has written a beautiful article about Mary Baker Eddy as an educator and teacher. He points out some of the qualities she expressed. For example, he mentions 'a listening attitude' along with 'selflessness and humility' (p. 72). Further along (p. 75) Mr John lists some of  'the moral and spiritual qualities' identified by her students, including 'courtesy, gentleness, tenderness...; ...youthfulness, wit, joy, radiancy, and beauty; ...discernment, incisiveness, lucidity, and brevity of statement...'.

Tellingly, 'She dealt directly with the thought of each student. She taught by means of searching questions and answers' (ibid). This one-to-one teaching could not 'be thoroughly taught to large audiences, because [it] require[d] addressing the pupils individually and examining critically the thoughts expressed' (p. 73).

This is a very different skill set from those required in a lecture room, where the message is necessarily designed for larger groups and on a more general level. Paul Stark Seeley comments on Eddy's skills as lecturer. 'As a public speaker' Seeley writes, Mrs Eddy 'was able so to impart her message that it did not become shadowed by her personality' (p. 42). He continues - 'Her natural dignity, poise, and conviction...left an enduring impression on her hearers' (ibid). Also notable were qualities such as 'courage, fearlessness, inspiration, and patience' (ibid).

Words are important! Seeley notes that 'the spoken word of Truth is indispensable to arousing human thought to discern the oncoming dawn of spiritual reality' (p. 44). Words must be chosen wisely. How helpful, then, is God's promise to the reluctant Moses (Exodus 4: 12): 'Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.'

John summed it up in his gospel, (John 6:63): 'They shall be all taught of God.'

Julie Swannell

PS 6pm tonight May 7 2019, Mon Komo Hotel in Redcliffe: lecture delivered by Michelle Nanouche, 'Angry No More'. Free admission. Bring your open heart.