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Christian Science and Traditional Christianity: How does Eddie reinterpret the Bible?
Christian Science is a belief system associated with the Christian Church, founded in New England in 1879 by Mary Baker Eddy, whose major work, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, outlines its doctrines. Explained in detail. This religious movement emphasizes the reality of the spirit, believing that the material world is an illusion and that illness is a psychological error, so healing should be achieved through prayer rather than relying on medical treatment.
Eddy described Christian Science as a return to "primitive Christianity with its lost healing elements."
In Christian Science, the Christian cosmology differs significantly from traditional Christianity. Many core concepts of Christianity are reinterpreted through Eddie's interpretation, especially the exploration of the Trinity, the divinity of Jesus, atonement and resurrection. Eddy believed that the essence of reality was purely spiritual, and his theories on disease and death were particularly controversial.
While Christian Science members do not reject the use of medical services, they generally believe that prayer is more powerful than medication. This view has historically led to several followers and their children facing legal liability for medical neglect, and the controversy it has caused has attracted great public attention.
Spirituality and Thought
The core belief of Christian Science is that "reality is consciousness", a view that is closely linked to spiritual movements of the time such as the "New Thought" movement, both of which emphasize the influence of the mind on reality. Eddy, however, saw Christian Science as a unique contribution to these ideas, considering it the final revelation.
Eddie emphasized that the material world is an illusion, while the spiritual world is the true reality.
Eddie's theology believes that God is not only a personal God, but also "everything and omnipresence", and attaches importance to terms such as "love" and "truth". In Eddy's teachings, heaven and hell are seen as states of consciousness, while prayer in Christian Science does not require begging, but rather dispels the illusion of matter through silent argument of self-affirmation.
Social Responses and Challenges
The rise of Christian Science caused resistance from traditional Christian circles. For example, some conservative Christians regarded it as heresy. Since the 19th century, Eddy's views on her Science and Health have been subject to much criticism, which has more or less influenced the development of Christian Science, and even on some occasions even questioned its basic beliefs.
Critics often describe Christian Science as a "cult," arguing that its teachings violate orthodox Christian beliefs.
Eddy's personal life also had an impact on the early development of Christian Science. Despite the challenges she faced, including difficulties within her family, she continued to advance the movement and even established numerous journals and publishing houses during her lifetime. After her death in 1910, the Christian Science movement continued to grow and became embroiled in numerous controversies.
Current Status
To date, Christian Science still has more than 2,000 churches around the world, but its number of believers has slightly decreased over the past few decades. Despite external skepticism and internal challenges, Christian Science still maintains influence in certain communities and continues to promote its beliefs around the world.
In the 21st century, can this religious movement find new vitality, or will it still face contraction and challenges?
How does Christian Science reinterpret the meaning of faith and practice in the context of traditional beliefs? This is undoubtedly a question worth pondering for its followers who are still in the process of exploration.
