Recommended Books
The following book list has been compiled by the ExCS Editorial team with input from ExCS Facebook members.
The Editorial Team’s Top Picks
God’s Perfect Child: Living and Dying in the Christian Science Church
This is the gold standard critique of Christian Science–scholarly, exhaustive, and courageous. In August 2019 the 20th anniversary edition came out!
God’s Perfect Child answers many questions, like why it’s acceptable for Christian Scientists to see dentists and optometrists, but not doctors. The history of Christian Science presented in this book is also enlightening. It is thoroughly researched and annotated, and pretty much unassailable.
Read our reviewBuy the 20th anniversary editionBuy the original edition
Perfect Peril: Christian Science and Mind Control
Previously published as The Religion That Kills: Christian Science-Abuse, Neglect, and Mind Control: How Could This Happen?
Linda Kramer shows how Christian Science employs influence factors and thought reform techniques that psychologists have identified as typical tools of cults. This explains how Christian Science is able to keep a hold on people, many of whom are intelligent, educated, good folks, and who later are astonished at their deep involvement with the religion.
Children & the Dangers of Religion
Some of these may refer to or have chapters pertaining to Christian Science, but are not exclusively Christian Science related.
Bad Faith: When Religious Belief Undermines Modern Medicine
Paul Offit is professor of pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and a board member of Children’s Healthcare Is a Legal Duty (CHILD).
Paul Offit’s latest book is not anti-religion. He argues that compassion is the core of Christ’s teaching and that much good is performed by many religious organizations. However, the notion that medical treatment conflicts with reliance on God persists in many sects; resulting in unnecessary suffering and tragedy, especially for children.
The Child Cases: How America’s Religious Exemption Laws Harm Children
Through close analysis of these seven cases, legal historian Alan Rogers explores the conflict between religious principles and secular laws that seek to protect children from abuse and neglect. Christian Scientists argued―often with the support of mainline religious groups―that the First Amendment’s “free exercise” clause protected religious belief and behavior. Insisting that their spiritual care was at least as effective as medical treatment, they thus maintained that parents of seriously ill children had a constitutional right to reject medical care.
In the Name of God: The True Story of the Fight to Save Children from Faith-Healing Homicide
Masterfully written by author Cameron Stauth, In the Name of God tells the true story of their heroic mission, which resulted in a historic series of sensational trials that exposed the darkest secret of American fundamentalism, and revealed the shameful political deals that have allowed thousands of children to die at the hands of their own parents – legally.
Deadly Blessings: Faith Healing on Trial
Deadly Blessings is a penetrating examination of three controversial court cases. With exceptional insight, Richard J. Brenneman delves into the minds of those who believe that faith or magic alone can cure physical and emotional ills.
The Crime of Dorothy Sheridan
An account of the unnecessary death of five-year-old Lisa Sheridan describes how, when little Lisa was stricken with pneumonia, Dorothy Sheridan, a Christian Scientist, denied her daughter medical treatment.
Memoirs by Former Christian Scientists
Blue Windows: A Christian Science Childhood
The mental health issues associated with leaving Christian Science are the theme of this memoir, especially the struggle with ingrained Christian Science concepts.
A Collision of Truths
Ellis was raised in, and for many years was very dedicated to Christian Science until a series of tragic events caused him to leave the religion.
fathermothergod: My Journey Out of Christian Science
A moving, powerful, and beautifully written work. Greenhouse grew up in a family with a Christian Science practitioner/teacher father. She left Christian Science in her teens. This caused a strained relationship with her parents, because she was then somewhat of an outsider.
The Last Strawberry
A heartbreaking but beautiful tribute to Swan’s son Matthew, who died while under Christian Science ‘care’. This little book packs a powerful punch and clearly illustrates the utter coldness, denial, and futility of Christian Science.
Learning to Drive
This is a delightful and satisfying novel about a woman’s exit from Christian Science and her success in starting over with her life. It is a nice change of pace from the many critical nonfiction works on Christian Science.
Pretend You Don't See the Elephant: The Family Secrets and Silence of Christian Science
A personal memoir about the author’s life growing up in a dysfunctional Christian Science family in the 1950’s.
The Unseen Shore: Memories of a Christian Science Childhood
Weaving poetry and philosophy throughout this pilgrimage, Simmons offers an intelligent, literate account of his personal ‘dark night of the soul.’ Ultimately, he acknowledges life and the material as real—despite imperfections—rather than as the illusory, spiritual manifestations of his Christian Science youth.
Leaving Christian Science: 10 Stories of New Faith in Jesus Christ
Lauren Hunter grew up in a fourth generation Christian Science home but struggled to understand and implement successful physical healing. Like many who have left Christian Science, she sought out others who had also left to gain clarity. After being out of CS for nearly 20 years, she hoped to help others cross the chasm of leaving this religious cult by sharing her story, as well as the stories of nine others she interviewed. Her book, Leaving Christian Science: 10 Stories of New Faith in Jesus Christ, was released in 2020.
Hunter’s book examines stories from 10 different people who left Christian Science and started walking a Christian path, following Christ Jesus as their guide.
Released: Walking from Blame and Shame into Wholeness
Peggy wrote a book about leaving the Christian Science church after 38 years. She was a member of The Mother Church and went through class with DeWitt John.
Non-Religious/Agnostic
Some of these may refer to or have chapters pertaining to Christian Science, but are not exclusively Christian Science related.
Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon
This book explores the link between brain chemistry and religion and describes the ways in which religion belief and practice actually changes our brains. It helps to answer the question, “How did I ever believe such nonsense?”
Bright-Sided: How Positive Thinking Is Undermining America
Religious/Christian
Some of these may refer to or have chapters pertaining to Christian Science, but are not exclusively Christian Science related.
Mind Sciences
Helpful resource for comparing the basic doctrine of Christian Science with Christianity. Includes accessible charts and evangelism questions with scripture.
The Four Major Cults
Academic resource for understanding the heart of the differences between Christian Science and Christianity. The fair-minded Hoekema has few affirmations for Christian Science, targeting its misuse of scripture, weak doctrinal foundation, and inconsistencies in theology.
Scripture Twisting: 20 Ways the Cults Misread the Bible
The resource provides language, definitions, and examples for how different religions twist scripture. It includes a variety of specific examples of how Mary Baker Eddy twists scripture in Christian Science.
Biographies of Mary Baker Eddy
The Healing Revelations of Mary Baker Eddy: The Rise and Fall of Christian Science
Gardner summarizes the various plagiarism charges and devotes a chapter each to Dickey and Twain, etc. Gardner explains how Christian Science fits within the context of other New Thought movements.
Mrs. Eddy: The Biography of a Virginal Mind
Dakin’s biography of Mary Baker Eddy is based on contemporaneous sources, and is absolutely jaw-dropping! Does a great job of showing how Christian Science was a money-making operation for Eddy, and how dishonest and manipulative she was.
Mary Baker Eddy
Gill’s book is extensively researched with excellent footnotes, leading you to solid sources and further helpful reading.
The Life of Mary Baker G. Eddy and the History of Christian Science
The author traveled New England interviewing people who had actually known Mary Baker Eddy from as early as childhood through to her adult life, and the growth of Christian Science. McClure’s, where the articles originally appeared, was one of the foremost journals of investigative journalism of its day, and the series was damaging to the aura of Eddy and the respectable image of Christian Science that The Mother Church had tried to cultivate. This book is a consolidation of the McClure’s articles.
Mary Baker Eddy: An Interpretive Biography of the Founder of Christian Science
Scrupulously objective, but unflinchingly candid, this biography sets forth this remarkable woman’s shortcomings and idiosyncrasies as well as her strengths, her special talents, and her enduring contribution to the American scene.
Christian Science
A not-so-gentle critique of Ms. Eddy’s religion, philosophies and writing, by noted writer and contemporary of Eddy, Mark Twain.
Read our reviewRead free on Project GutenbergBuy from Amazon