Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

RELIGION LIBRARY

Christian Science

Toggle navigation

Beginnings

The teachings of Christian Science date to 1866, the year Mary Baker Eddy reported recovering from the severe effects of an accident after reading a passage in the Bible's New Testament.

Influences

Eddy's Calvinist upbringing was her deepest early influence. Grappling with illness, she studied homeopathy and sought healing from Phineas P. Quimby, both profoundly significant contributions to Christian Science. Her papers show the Bible to be her most intimate, lifelong companion.

Founders

Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910) is termed the "Discoverer, Founder, and Leader" of Christian Science and its institutional home, the Church of Christ, Scientist.

Sacred Texts

Christian Scientists consider the Christian Bible to be their Holy Scriptures. Eddy's Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures is termed the "textbook" that explains the Scriptures.

Historical Perspectives

The historiography of Christian Science is storied and complex. Polemics appeared in an offensive/defensive pattern through the 1960s, when more balanced scholarship began to emerge. Scholarship has been scarce compared to other denominations and is focused largely on Eddy's biography.

Overview History Back to religion Library

editors picks View All Columns

Evangelical

Before You Unplug or Sign Out for Good

Guest Contributor

Evangelical

What Is the Purpose of Spiritual Gifts, and How Do You Discover Yours?

New Visions

5 Ways to Hear What God is Telling You

Muslim

How Awake Are We? When Waking Up is Falling Asleep

Daniel Thomas Dyer

Latter-day Saint

"The Church supports the use of vaccinations"

Evangelical

Luther and the Beauty of Christ

Guest Contributor

The Soul of Gospel Music Explored in New Netflix Series "Voices of Fire"

Seven Ways to Think About Christian Mysticism

Evangelical

Cancelling Alice Walker?

Evangelical

Does God Have His Own Logic?

Muslim

Imam Ali’s letter to the Governor- Everlasting Example of Good...

Progressive Christian

Why Did Jesus Have To Die?

Patheos Logo Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Copyright 2008-2026, Patheos. All rights reserved.

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos