PLEASE NOTE: The following post contains content that may make some readers uncomfortable.
By Lucy, an Ex-Christian Scientist Group contributor. ‘Lucy’ is a pseudonym, to ensure anonymity.
My husband and I both grew up in Christian Science families. We first met at Principia Upper School and then attended Prin college together. He has always been more spiritual and I’ve always been more practical, so when both of his parents died early from treatable diseases he really dug into Christian Science as a way to try and find healing from his grief, which he didn’t think he was supposed to feel. But at some point, probably a few years ago, I began to realize that as much as I really wanted it to be true and work it made NO sense to me. I began to get into science… you know, actual science!
PLEASE NOTE: The following post contains content that may make some readers uncomfortable.
By Rachel, an Ex-Christian Scientist Group contributor. ‘Rachel’ is a pseudonym, to ensure anonymity.
I was a fifth generation Christian Scientist. Having grown up in a family involved with Christian Science for multiple generations, I can see patterns now, passed down through family stories; patterns from the very first family members to join Christian Science. The things that happened to me in my childhood were probably going to happen to me regardless. But the incidents would not have been handled in the manner that they were if not for the fact that our family were Christian Scientists.
I was sick so much as a kid with diseases I was not vaccinated against. I had every kind of measles that you can have, and the mumps. The ear infections were horrible and one of my most prominent memories of childhood. I don’t think my mom knew what an ear infection was. My dad did insist that I have the polio vaccine—I’m so grateful for that. And no one ever made me feel guilty for being sick, or berated me. Christian Science taught me how to do that all by myself.
Lois Lowry, The Giver
Christian Science can be a very lonely, isolating religion, with a focus on individual study, and an individual’s understanding of Eddy’s works. If someone is struggling to demonstrate a healing, they are at fault for not “correcting” their thinking. If someone has unfortunate events befall them, again, they are seen to be somehow lacking spiritual understanding. When one is struggling with these problems, they often feel as if they are the only one who is, voicing the problem only gives it power, and other Christian Scientists are demonstrating perfectly, surely they’re not having any trouble.
The following stories deal with sexual assault and abuse, and discuss how these issues were “handled” through Christian Science. We have chosen to share them with the hopes of reaching those who need to hear they are not alone.
There is help available and you are worth it.
National Sexual Assault Hotline operated by RAINN – To be connected to the rape crisis center nearest to you, dial 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) 1-877-739-3895
Sexual assault is any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient. Falling under the definition of sexual assault are sexual activities as forced sexual intercourse, forcible sodomy, child molestation, incest, fondling, and attempted rape. (Justice.gov)
