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Abstract: The theology of Christian Science, as presented by Mary Baker Eddy, is shown to be logically incoherent. In particular, Mrs. Eddy’s better understanding of God as a principle, rather than a person, is shown to be nonsense that amounts to a lie about God. The reason is that God is the creator and governor of the universe; but a principle, by itself, cannot create anything, nor do anything. This logical incoherence invalidates Mrs. Eddy’s explanations for how Jesus healed, and for how she and other Christian Scientists obtain healings. We have the biblical description of how Jesus healed, and it forms the basis for the present-day healing ministries in many churches. (Incidentally, the author’s church sees no conflict between healing prayer and Medical Science, provided the Medical Doctor who treats the physical condition avoids any spiritual approaches that are non-Christian.) When patients in Christian Science are healed by a lie about God, the kingdom of the devil, the father of lies, can come upon them. This unexpected consequence makes involvement in Christian Science very risky. Victims have recourse to obtaining healing in the name of Jesus Christ, which brings the kingdom of God upon them, with God’s blessings and promises.
A book entitled, The Grand Design, by Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow, [1] has stimulated a philosophical discussion about science that is also relevant to the religion, Christian Science. Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer and founder of Christian Science, wrote in the Christian Science textbook, “God creates and governs the universe, including man.” [2] In the same book, she also wrote, “In an age of ecclesiastical despotism, Jesus introduced the teaching and practice of Christianity, affording the proof of Christianity’s truth and love; but to reach his example and to test its unerring Science according to his rule, healing sickness, sin, and death, a better understanding of God as divine Principle, Love, rather than personality or the man Jesus, is required.” [3]
However, there is a logical difficulty with Mrs. Eddy’s better understanding of God, the creator and governor of the universe, including man, as a principle, rather than a person. John Lennox, Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford and Fellow in Mathematics and the Philosophy of Science, has explained that a principle is descriptive, but not active nor creative. [4], [5]
For example, the principle of addition describes how a person, having 10 red balls and 20 yellow balls, could calculate that he has a total of 30 balls. However, this principle, by itself, cannot perform the calculation that it describes; nor can it create another mathematical principle, such as the principle of multiplication. Instead, the principle of addition remains dormant, until a person (or a personal agent, such as a computer) utilizes this principle to calculate a sum, or to derive another mathematical principle.
There are many similar examples. The principles of music, by themselves, cannot compose a song, or sing a song. The principles of art, on their own, cannot paint a picture, or display it. The principles of cooking, by themselves, cannot make a meal, or serve it. All of these principles remain dormant, until a person (or a personal agent) utilizes these principles to do something, or create something.
It follows that God, the creator and governor of the universe, could not be a principle, because a principle, by itself, cannot create anything, nor do anything. Thus, the theology of Christian Science, as presented by Mary Baker Eddy, is shown to be logically incoherent. In particular, her better understanding of God as a principle, rather than a person, is shown to be nonsense that amounts to a lie about God.
Also, since Mrs. Eddy wrote that a better understanding of God as a principle, rather than a person, is required to heal as Jesus did, and since such an understanding of God is logically incoherent, we conclude that Mary Baker Eddy did not provide a satisfactory explanation for how Jesus healed. Nor are the healings obtained by Mrs. Eddy and by other Christian Scientists satisfactorily explained by such nonsense. There must be another explanation – one that is logically coherent.
In a preliminary search for logically-coherent explanations, we find that the Bible describes generally how Jesus healed and how his disciples can heal in his name. Today, many churches have effective Bible-based healing ministries. (Incidentally, the church attended by the author sees no conflict between Medical Science and healing prayer – provided the Medical Doctor who treats the physical condition avoids any spiritual approaches that are non-Christian.) A few books on Christian healing are listed as references [6] – [9]. However, our understanding of Christian healing is not complete, because we have only a partial knowledge of the spiritual realm. The main question that we shall try to address is how Christian Scientists obtain healings, since Mrs. Eddy’s explanation is not satisfactory.
We have shown that Mrs. Eddy’s better understanding of God as a principle, rather than a person, is a lie about God. Besides breaking the Ten Commandments [10], this lie indicates that Christian Science resides in the realm of the devil. About the devil, Jesus said, “When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” [11] Since this lie about God is required to obtain healings in Christian Science, we conclude that healing prayers based on this lie are not deep utterances of truth, but are comparable to the enchantments used by Pharaoh’s magicians, when they emulated some of the miracles of Moses. [12] Unlike Mrs. Eddy, these magicians knew the difference between their enchantments and the finger of God.
Jesus said, “But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.” [13] Alternatively, when patients are healed by a lie about God, the kingdom of the devil can come upon them. This unexpected consequence makes any involvement in Christian Science very risky. A number of the author’s Christian Science friends have received healings initially, but later were afflicted with worse illnesses.
The Scriptures show that the devil can heal [14], and that he can appear as an angel of light [15]; but he is not our friend. The devil wants to take us to hell, where he, himself, is headed with his demons, because he rebelled against God. Jesus Christ loves us, and he came on a mission to destroy the works of the devil. Instead of becoming king, Jesus submitted to the miserable death of crucifixion to pay the price for our sins, so that we could escape hell and enter heaven. His heavenly Father accepted Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf, and raised him from the dead. If we accept Jesus’ gift of salvation and become his disciples, he will help to free us from any bondage brought about by the devil. Obtaining healings in the name of Jesus Christ brings the kingdom of God upon us, with God’s blessings and promises.
Summary: We have shown that Mary Baker Eddy’s better understanding of God as a principle, rather than a person, is logically incoherent, and amounts to a lie about God. The reason is that God is the creator and governor of the universe; but a principle, by itself, cannot create anything, nor do anything. Also, because Mrs. Eddy’s theology of healing requires this logically-incoherent understanding of God, she has not provided satisfactory explanations for how Jesus healed, or for how she and other Christian Scientists obtain healings. We have the biblical description of how Jesus healed, and it forms the basis for the present-day healing ministries in many churches. (Incidentally, the author’s church sees no conflict between healing prayer and Medical Science, provided the Medical Doctor who treats the physical condition avoids any spiritual approaches that are non-Christian.)
Mrs. Eddy’s lie that God is a principle, rather than a person, indicates that Christian Science resides in the kingdom of the devil, who is the father of lies. Since the healing prayers in Christian Science are based on this lie about God, we conclude that such prayers are not deep utterances of truth, but are comparable to the enchantments used by Pharaoh’s magicians, when they emulated some of the miracles of Moses. The Scriptures show that the devil can heal, and that he can appear as an angel of light. When patients are healed by a lie about God, the kingdom of the devil can come upon them. This unexpected consequence makes involvement in Christian Science very risky. Victims have recourse to healing in the name of Jesus Christ, which brings the kingdom of God upon them, with God’s blessings and promises.
About the author: Robert C. Costen is retired from NASA, where he worked as a research scientist for 40 years. His education includes a B.S. Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin, and M.S. and Ph. D. Degrees in Applied Mathematics from Harvard University. He was raised in Christian Science, and remained a member of The Church of Christ, Scientist until age 47. Now, at age 80, he is a born-again Christian, and attends a Pentecostal church.
References:
- Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow,The Grand Design (New York: Bantam Books, 2010).
- Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (Boston, MA: Published by the Trustees under the Will of Mary Baker G. Eddy, 1934), 295.
- Ibid., 473.
- John Lennox, “Stephen Hawking and God,” Just Thinking19.1 (Nov. 23, 2010), 2-17.
- http://www.rzim.org/just-thinking/Stephen-Hawking-and-God/
- Wayman Mitchell with John Gooding, Healing: Commission, Confrontation, Compelling Witness (Prescott, AZ: The Potter’s Press, 2003).
- Guy P. Duffield and Nathaniel M. Van Cleave, Foundations of Pentecostal Theology (Los Angeles: L.I.F.E. Bible College, 1987), 359-416.
- Henry Wright, A More Excellent Way(Thomaston, GA: Pleasant Valley Publications, 2000).
- T. L. Osborn, Healing the Sick(Tulsa, OK: Harrison House Inc., 1992).
- Exodus 20:3-17.
- John 8:44(KJV)
- Exodus 7:10– Exodus 8:19.
- Luke 11:20(KJV)
- Revelation 13:1-3
- 2 Corinthians 11:14
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