Church of Christ, Scientist
The Church of Christ, Scientist was founded by Mary Baker Eddy in Boston in 1879, based on her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (1875). It teaches that God is divine Mind and infinite Spirit, that matter and evil are illusions of mortal mind, and that prayer and spiritual understanding—rather than medicine—are the proper means of healing. Jesus Christ is revered as the supreme exemplar of the healing power of Truth, though the church rejects orthodox Trinitarianism. Membership has declined significantly from a mid-20th-century peak, but the church remains headquartered in Boston and publishes the internationally distributed Christian Science Monitor.
Theology
Christology
Soteriology
Salvation
Nuanced
Salvation through understanding divine Truth; sin and sickness are illusions
Atonement & Ransom
Denies
Atonement is not blood sacrifice; Christ demonstrates Life conquers sin
Predestination
Denies
Divine Love is universal; no God choosing some; all equally God's children
Original Sin
Denies
Original sin is not real; evil is an error of mortal mind
Eschatology
Soul & Afterlife
Nuanced
Death is a false belief; consciousness continues as spiritual awakening
Hell
Denies
Hell is self-punishing state of sin; no literal place of eternal torment
Heaven
Nuanced
Heaven is reign of divine harmony; a state of consciousness, not a place
Second Coming
Nuanced
Second Coming is spiritual appearing of Truth in human consciousness
Millennium
Nuanced
Not a literal future period; advancing understanding of Truth
Ecclesiology
Scripture
Scripture Interpretation
John 1:1 — "The Word Was God"
Nuanced
Word (Logos) = divine Principle/Mind; not a distinct person; reflects Life/Truth
Isaiah 7:14 — "Virgin or Young Woman"
Nuanced
'Almah' = young woman; Jesus' earthly birth natural; virgin birth not essential
Matthew 16:18 — "Upon This Rock"
Nuanced
Rock = Truth/spiritual understanding; Church built on perception of divine principle
Romans 9:18-21 — "God's Sovereign Choice"
Denies
No predestination; God's Love embraces all; individual choice determines destiny
James 2:24 — "Justified by Works"
Nuanced
Works demonstrate spiritual understanding; faith = spiritual consciousness
Matthew 28:19 — "Baptize in the Name"
Denies
Water baptism rejected; baptism = inward spiritual cleansing by Truth
Hebrews 1:8 — "Your Throne, O God"
Nuanced
Jesus reflects divine qualities; not literally God; Son = expression of God
Revelation 20:1-6 — "The Thousand Years"
Nuanced
Millennium symbolic of Spirit's rule; Satan bound through Truth; spiritual kingdom
Genesis 1:1-2 — "In the Beginning"
Nuanced
Creation spiritual; matter is illusion; God creates through Mind; literal days denied
Mark 16:9-20 — "The Longer Ending"
Denies
Longer Ending not canonical; spiritual signs (healing) demonstrate Truth, not external
John 7:53–8:11 — "The Woman Caught in Adultery"
Nuanced
Passage's authenticity debated; principle of forgiveness through Truth affirmed
1 John 5:7-8 — "The Comma Johanneum"
Denies
Comma Johanneum absent earliest MSS; Trinity doctrine rejected entirely
Deuterocanonical Books — "Tobit, Wisdom, Sirach, Maccabees"
Denies
Deuterocanonical books not canonical; rely on 66 books of Protestant canon
Shepherd of Hermas — "Early Christian Text"
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical; not part of Protestant Scripture collection
Ethics & Practice
Sabbath
Varies
Sunday services typical; no formal Sabbath doctrine; all days equally holy
Blood Transfusions
Denies
Medicine generally rejected; reliance on prayer; transfusions avoided
Military Service
Varies
Historically some conscientious objectors; no formal denominational prohibition
Holidays
Varies
Christmas and Easter may be observed; spiritual meaning emphasized