Christian Science

Christian Science ( German: Christian Science ) is the name of Mary Baker Eddy ( 1821-1910 ) after 1866 developed doctrine they put in her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures and 1875, first published.

  • 7.1 In Germany
  • 7.2 Current situation
  • 8.1 The Herald of Christian Science

Name

Church of Christ, Scientist is the name for the well-founded by Mary Baker Eddy global community of faith, which sees itself as a mouthpiece for Christian Science. The Mother Church is The First Church of Christ, Scientist ( The First Church of Christ, Scientist ) in Boston. The local churches are branch churches of The Mother Church, which is a legally separate and organized democratically by the members of the local communities. Frequently is also commonly spoken of the Christian Science Church.

Dissemination

For the total number of members is not an official self-reported before, various estimates of 400,000 members of which there are about 100,000 active.

The church is formed from the mother church, "The First Church of Christ, Scientist" in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, and its approximately 2,000 branch churches in 80 countries ( after Georg Schmid 3000 branch churches and university associations in 50 countries). In Germany there are 72 branch churches, associations and university clubs with approximately 2,000 members (as of July 2005). operate in Switzerland 22 branch churches in Austria there are 2

Worldwide, the Christian Science in 1433 officially registered Christian Science practitioner, 55 of them in Germany, in Switzerland and 10 in Austria 4 ( after Georg Schmid, churches, sects, religions (2003) a total of 10,000, D: 200, A: 1, CH: under 40 )

Teaching

After Mary Baker Eddy Christian Science is the law of the good, the science of Christ, which goes back to the teachings of the Bible Christian system of spiritual healing.

Basic ideas are

  • God is Divine Love, the highest Father-Mother.
  • The true nature of each individual as a child of God is spiritual.
  • God's infinite goodness, experienced in prayer, heals.

As a starting point for how Eddy calls it, the discovery of Christian Science healing is their spontaneous viewed from the serious consequences of an accident in 1866. Eddy led back her unexpected recovery to be an inspiration in reading the healing of the paralytic (Matthew 9) depicted in the Bible. Explain the clergy, that the idea that the force behind the biblical healing events and the ministry of Jesus Christ was not limited to biblical times, was the impetus for Eddy's multi-year study of the Bible, to be the publication of Eddy's major work, Science and Health with Key Scripture led. The 1879 defined the purpose of the Christian Science Church is, according to a central management Scripture is "to bring the words and works of Jesus Christ in memory and thus primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing reintroduce " ( Church Manual, p 17).

Mary Baker Eddy described the superiority of spiritual power over the physical force as the central fact of the Bible and also as the central point of Christian Science. In their view, had this "great fact " be proved by the healing of the sick.

Christian Science sees God, spirit and mind as the only cause and principle of the universe. Man it is true according to the first story of creation in Genesis ( Gen 1:1 -2a) as the image and likeness of God, therefore he is spiritual. Matter and evil are considered - before God, spirit - unreal and temporal.

God is described in the Christian Science with seven synonyms: mind, spirit, soul, principle, life, truth and love. "God is [ the ] love", a quote from the Letters of John, is on the front wall of many Christian Science Church building. To emphasize clearly the names or synonyms for God, Eddy wrote it big in English - the German capitals or lowercase is used in accordance with; it is about the Divine Mind of the human soul distinguished (see below the application in the " Scientific Statement of Being" ).

Eddy sat down in front to lay down their thoughts with the mesmerism of Phineas Parkhurst Quimby and the observations of homeopathy apart, the views that diseases are mental in origin. Eddy's view, however, differed significantly from the suggestion therapy Quimby through their Christian attitude that sees God in the center and not a manipulative power of the people. Eddy concluded that the man must be in his image and likeness mentally perfect and therefore sin, sickness, and death really overcome only through the devotion to the divine origin could be ( healed ) and would have.

The term science lays Baker Eddy in itself new. The question of a Christian Science Statement of Being answered Mary Baker Eddy as follows:

Eddy presents its " scientific explanation " in a direct relationship with the Bible text from 1 John 3:1-3, which in addition as so-called " appropriate scripture " every Sunday is recited at the end of the service:

The reading of these two texts is then followed by the blessing.

A Rule for Motives and actions of the members of the Mother Church, they are as follows in the Church Manual again:

Creed

In the textbook, Mary Baker Eddy are six beliefs that must be signed by all who wish to join the Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston. These beliefs are opposed to a literal - historical interpretation of the Bible and against the Trinity. Forgiveness is considered the intellectual understanding that evil is unreal, defined. Redemption done through Christ, through Truth, Life and Love, and the meaning of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus was " to bring the faith to the understanding of eternal life, the totality of the soul, the spirit, and to non-existence of matter. "

Worship and Practice

The church today, unlike in the early days of the church, no ordained ministers; the Bible, along with " Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures " is the pastor of the Christian Science Church.

The services on Sunday consist of singing, prayer and readings of quotations of these two books, which are performed by two readers. The reading from the Bible and Science and Health include the sermon. The followers of study a week over the readings of Sunday. Also on the Wednesday evening meetings, there is a short reading from both books, while the other part of the meeting is taken up by contributions and testimonies of healings of the Assembly visitors. Twice a year a sacrament service is held in the branch churches where the congregation kneeling " spiritual communion " celebrates. A baptism with water or eat with bread and wine takes place.

Christian scientific carers

An idea of a practical Christianity is also reflected in the work of the Christian scientific curator. It is the work of the Christian Science practitioner if necessary to cure the patient to the side. His task is defined and described in the Church Manual of Christian Science. "A member of The Mother Church, which describes itself as a Christian Science nurse, or Christian Science nurse, must be a person who has a demonstrable knowledge of the practice of Christian Science, which has the necessary in the sickroom practical wisdom and care of the sick adequately can. " VIII 31 He gives practical assistance in clothing, food, Moving, bathing, etc. the base and the only tools are prayer, they are medicine for him and God is his doctor. The Christian scientific Pfleger is not formed for the purposes of a medical nurse and can not afford medical care. He is the only exclusively available to trusts with respect to the Christian Science healing. Decisions regarding the care remain in the hands of the patient or the family.

Christian science practitioner

Another idea of a practical Christianity is one of its forms in the work of the christian science practitioner, the other through prayer, in the sense of healing order of Jesus, helps to find a cure.

This claiming to be affected the healing ministry of Jesus mostly full-time religious exercise usually finds its form in what is called Christian scientific treatment in the Christian theology and scientific comprises a systematized form of prayer. This includes the strengthening of the spiritual facts of being, the perfection of God and of man, who is understood in Christian Science, and following the first biblical account of creation as a reflection of the Godhead.

The ideological basis for this form of religious practice can be found for the Christian Scientists in the Bible and " Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures " by Mary Baker Eddy.

The christian science practitioner is not a church official title and is not a cleric, but they are usually in the official organ of the Christian Science Mother Church, the Christian Science Journal, as well as for Germany in the The Christian Science Herold, officially listed and thus express their Availability for seeking help. One of the requirements for such registration is the conclusion of class instruction mentioned 12-day course at a Christian science teacher.

Christian science teacher

Teacher of Christian Science must have attended a course in the Board of Education of the Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston, MA, USA. Prerequisite for this is at least three years full professional work as Christian scientific practitioners.

The teacher may teach only one class of a maximum of 30 students per year. The fee for the classes specified in the manual by Mary Baker Eddy and amounts per pupil maximum of $ 100 U.S.. Subject matter is the chapter "Summary" from the textbook of Christian Science, " Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures ".

Organization

The Constitution of the Church is the Church Manual by Mary Baker Eddy. The church is led by a five -member board. The Board shall elect the successor in vacant seats on the Board. The church is represented by a President elected annually by the Board of Directors of the Mother Church to the outside; but in fact is all the power of the five -member board.

The branch churches manage their affairs independently and democratically itself you know, different conditions for the admission of members in each branch churches.

Membership can be purchased in both a branch church and in the Mother Church. Certain functions in the branch churches, as the reader office may be exercised only by members who are also members of the Mother Church. To the mother church to join, all connections to other denominations to be solved.

History

The first church was founded in 1879 in Boston, USA. 1881 could be Mary Baker Eddy ordained pastor for their church. 1892 originated from the since- defunct community the Mother Church in Boston (The First Church of Christ, Scientist ).

1895, the original building of the Mother Church was consecrated. In 1906 the extension building was opened ( see figure at right ).

In Germany

In many states, the Christian Science has the status of a public corporation.

Current situation

After initially strong growth the movement since about 1955 fights with steady loss of members. So it can be assumed that in 2006 less than 1000 practitioners and teachers are active in the United States. With the opening of the Mary Baker Eddy Library for the Betterment of Humanity, the Church has opened its archives to the public and tried with other activities to regain meaning. New churches are built mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2004, the first Christian Science church in Ukraine opened its doors.

Publications

Publications are not religious, in the U.S. and outside the church spread newspaper The Christian Science Monitor and the religious publications The Herald of Christian Science, The Christian Science Journal, The Christian Science Sentinel, a quarterly magazine ( Bible lesson booklet).

The Herald of Christian Science

The Herald of Christian Science ( formerly called The Christian Science Herold ) has been published since 1903 and the first non-English speaking Christian Science subscription magazine at all. He is according to the vision of Mary Baker Eddy its readers practical examples of the availability and applicability of the laws of God and bring healing contains articles and reports as well as a directory of Christian Science churches, Christian Science practitioners and other information. In addition to the German Herald of Christian Science (monthly ) are supplied with magazines of the issuing Christian Science Publishing Society 12 other languages.

Broadcasts

Christian Science produced a radio program in five languages ​​, and broadcast via short wave radio. In German language it was to receive every Sunday for an hour. In 2011, it was discontinued. Continued inclusion is Christian Science Church in contrast radio of Bavaria 2

Ecumenism and Dialogue

The Christian Science is not a member of the World Council of Churches. Background is the non- trinitarian creed, since the recognition of the Trinity is a recording requirement of the Council.

At the local level is Christian Science ( Christian Science ), a member of the Association of Churches and religious societies in Berlin.

Controversies

Christian Science defines expressions like sin, Christ, Creator spirit or otherwise, as they are defined in traditional Christian churches, which can give rise to misunderstandings. Mary Baker Eddy's interpretation of the Bible is rejected by traditional Christian churches.

Since Christian Science sees healing as exclusive process in consciousness, it rejects in principle from the interaction with evidence- based medicine and medical assistance, without, however, categorically ruled out. Members and supporters can go free under medical treatment at any time.

Unlike in the past, homosexuality and drinking alcohol is no impediment for a church membership (see also homosexuality and Christian Science).

Separation from the Mother Church

The perceptible in German-speaking organizational separation from the " Boston Mother Church " include:

The Kappeler Institute, named after Max Kappeler, that undertakes an independent, very abstract development of the theology of Mary Baker Eddy in the tradition of the former Christian Scientist John Doorly. Doorly had dissolved in the 1920s by the Boston Mother Church. The German branch of this direction has its headquarters in Berlin.

The Swiss National Association of Independent Christian Scientists, the continuation of the German idealism (Johann K. Passavant, Johann Gottlieb Fichte ) oriented "Christian science movement the German branch " represents the dissolved under the direction of Marie Schön 1923 by Boston. This direction represents an extension of the doctrine of Mary Baker Eddy to idealistic and spiritualistic approaches from other directions. The textbook, " Science and Health " is no longer valid here as inviolable.

The Christ - church in Bremen, not to be confused with the "Christ of Bremen ", an Evangelical Free Church, is a former " First Church of Christian Scientist ", which broke up after violent clashes of Boston and tried also teaching aspects of Far Eastern religions with the teachings Mary Baker Eddy to join.

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