Tag: former CS memoir

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The Unseen Shore: Memories of a Christian Science Childhood

UnseenShoreThe Unseen Shore: Memories of a Christian Science Childhood, Thomas Simmons

 

I gave a copy of The Unseen Shore to the senior pastor of our Presbyterian Church sometime in the early 90s. In our monthly newsletter this very erudite man stated his opinion that it was the best theological text of that year.

– Marion

This memoir was a bit too cerebral for me, but I’ve talked to others who liked it. 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.

– Beth

This book was one of the first I read around the time of my mother’s death. I related to his childhood pain and was touched at his descriptions of relating to his child after leaving Christian Science. I identified with that; my children have been my reality, also. This is a very honest book. He writes about a journey which is not for the faint-hearted. One formerly CS friend of mine couldn’t finish it, as it raised many painful memories.

– Katharine

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The Last Strawberry

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The Last Strawberry, Rita Swan

Totally devastating. Brought me to my knees.

– Elizabeth

Powerful and revealing. How could people who love their children not get them medical care? This books shows how.

– Ashley

Short, well-written, very touching, but at the same time it was difficult to read because of its subject matter which hit a bit too close to home. It stirred memories of my own time in Christian Science, and dealing with Christian Science practitioners, a class of ‘professionals’, if you want to call them that, who often and routinely cross personal and professional boundaries, at least in my own experience, and the experience of the author of this memoir.

– Jeremy

I’m disgusted by the behavior of the practitioners before and after Matthew’s death and by their petty rivalries. Hardly an ounce of charity in the lot. I’m also disgusted by the church’s fraudulent claim that it had healed another case of meningitis, when in fact the other child had the more benign form of the disease and had been treated in a hospital.

– Steve

An utterly heartbreaking but beautiful tribute to Rita’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.

– Madeleine

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fathermothergod: My Journey Out of Christian Science

FatherMotherGodfathermothergod: My Journey Out of Christian Science, Lucia Greenhouse

I downloaded fathermothergod and read the whole thing today. I finished it a couple of hours ago and have been an emotional, blubbering mess since then. I was identifying with so much of what she said and feeling secure in my gut feeling that Christian Science isn’t the Truth.

– Laura

A moving, powerful, and beautifully written work. The author convincingly recreates the bizarre dynamics of a Christian Science household: the jargon with its euphemisms and absolutist declarations of Truth, the denial and suppression of facts and feelings, the secrecy, the mistrust directed toward non-CS family members. When her mother becomes gravely ill, Lucia is frustrated in every attempt she makes to break through the intransigence of CS belief. Tragic and infuriating.

– Bruce

fathermothergod is extremely readable for non-Christian Scientists as well. Three of my friends and my therapist read it at my request, and their sudden understanding and compassion for me has been unexpected and extremely welcome.

– Valerie

This book was the easiest to read and a great primer for the uninitiated. It was so easy and friendly, while describing the horrors we all shared. This book was the easiest to read and a great primer for the uninitiated. It was so easy and friendly, while describing the horrors we all shared. I loved it, but it was tough to take. My own mom used to lie in bed, writhing in pain and screaming out to God on a regular basis. Damn, scratch the surface and you get so many revelations about things you have yet to really deal with.

– Katie J.

I read fathermothergod over the weekend. It was difficult, but gripping. I cried more than once.

– Cara

fathermothergod was the first critical book about Christian Science that I read after leaving the faith. Its pages stirred echoes of my own experience — from her recounting of childhood memories to her experience with her mother’s illness and death. I read it in about two days; I found it hard to put it down.

– Jeremy

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A Collision of Truths

Collision of TruthsA Collision of Truths, Robert Y. Ellis

A tragic story. The author was a staunch Christian Scientist and worked at the The Mother Church. A series of non-healings changed his attitude.

– Stacey

I loved this book! The author said it took him eight years to write. It comes from the heart.
– Ann

I love this one! I even reached out to the author last year and he emailed me back. I related so much to his story, and appreciated the fact that it didn’t bash Christian Science. It was just a heartfelt, honest retelling of his experience. It was difficult for me to read some of the stronger ex-CS stuff early in my departure and this was a great transition.

– Laura N.

I think it’s good to have such books written from the male perspective. I found Robert Ellis’s style very readable and when I contacted him, he was cordial and encouraging. He describes the impact on his thinking as he studied true science and read far more widely than Christian Science would allow. He describes in a sensitive way the effect of Christian Science on his family and his journey into new avenues of life.

– Katharine

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Blue Windows: A Christian Science Childhood

BlueWindowsBlue Windows: A Christian Science Childhood, Barbara Wilson

I stumbled upon Blue Windows a number of years ago at someone’s house. I started to read it and was so freaked out by the similarities between the author’s experiences and my own that I almost threw it across the room. It was like a lit match and it burned.

– Tessa

The mental health issues associated with leaving Christian Science are the theme of this memoir, especially the struggle with ingrained Christian Science concepts. The author’s mother’s struggle with self-destructive mental illness brought on by a sense of failure as a Christian Scientist is a turning point. It is a powerful book that will resonate with many who grew up in Christian Science homes.

– Bruce

Blue Windows was one of my triggers for leaving Christian Science. I owe that book a lot. It helped me see that the emotions and anxieties I have lived with for so long had a root in something.

– Marica

I loved Blue Windows. I thought it was more comprehensive than the other memoirs. Her background about Mrs. Eddy and the [Christian Science] Movement was helpful and added a lot of balance to the book.

– Marcia

I just finished Blue Windows. It was harder to get through than other Christian Science survivor books. Not because it wasn’t well written, it really was. Maybe it was too close to home? While I was able to sit and read others in a few long sittings, this one took an effort. Anyone else remember the Christian Science book that she takes the title from? I actually remembered it as a regular children’s book, not Christian Science literature. Funny how much deprogramming there is to be done, even when you think it’s all done already!

– Katie J.

I found Blue Windows difficult to read, purely because it felt like she was describing my childhood and I found it unnerving to think that others had experienced carbon copy childhoods. Mind you, this was quite a few years ago when I read it and I was still discovering that other former Christian Scientists were actually out there. Three cheers for the internet!

– Anonymous