Christian Science

Belief in Deity
Although many human or ethereal beings exhibit the divine nature, they are not worshipped as deities. The one God is Deity and is seen and felt through inspiration, especially when the human ego doesn’t get in the way. Deity is creative and trustworthy, conveyed to us through truth and love whereby we can experience one useful, whole, and lovable Deity—Being.

Incarnations
A person who embodies in the flesh a deific idea or quality is valid; however, this definition of incarnation can mislead the thinker to believe Deity can be compressed within a body. God can’t be confined or measured.

The descent of a deity to the earth in an incarnate form is viewed as mythological. Interestingly, the myth is progressing toward a more scientific view. For example, in digital technology, incarnation (avatar) is a graphical image that represents a person on the internet. Representation better defines incarnation.

In Christian Science, truth and love was incarnate in Christ Jesus—was represented by Christ Jesus. Christ is defined as “the divine manifestation of God, which comes to the flesh to destroy incarnate error.” (Science and Health, by Mary Baker Eddy)

Origin of Universe and Life
The first cause is the only cause. There is no time, no beginning and no end to God, a.k.a. reality, Life, and its universe. The “Alpha and Omega” spoken of in Revelation, implies the only, the infinite, ongoing creative Principle.

God did not bang the universe into existence. Eternal life is not evolving from bacteria to the brilliant being. Evolution is only occurring in the human mind as our concepts and perceptions of the universe and life improve and adapt to the infinite universe and life. Human beings did not originate the universe and life.

It takes inspiration, time and knowledge to understand the spiritual universe and life. To assume God created a material universe or defective beings is like the child who answers the question, “Do you know why it is important to be quiet in church?” with “Because people are sleeping.”

After Death
Hints of after-death are found throughout life. People die. Flowers die. Careers die. Relationships die. It can even feel like hope or faith dies. But, in looking around we find there are still people, flowers, careers, relationships, hope and faith. Ironically, corpses prove that death of a person is the departure of a person’s mind, not of the body. Therefore Christian Science pushes the question, encouraging one to focus on Life divine, and its nature of wellbeing, purpose, sharing, and possibility, which in turn can progress us out of the human need for death.

Death does not need to be feared. Only that which is unlike God self-destructs. God, Life, die not. 

Why Evil?
Evil is a misperception of good. Everyone views goodness through their own limited perceptions and opinions. That is why evil to one person may be good to another person. Disasters, manipulators, indolence, immorality, hate, envy, piousness, and so on have serious consequences that compel humanity to courageously detect and deny evil while striving to establish that which is good; whereby discovering how potently beautiful and infinite good is. 

Salvation
We all want to be saved from different things: mortality, sickness, financial problems, bullies, hell, and so on. Salvation is not a trip to a physical location called heaven. It is Life, Truth, and Love understood and manifested in everyday experience. It is more beneficial to look for salvation through reform, rather than through pardon. We can re-form ourselves after a spiritual God, exuding health, harmony, and holiness.

Undeserved Suffering
Christ Jesus suffered for the un-Godlike mentality of other people. Following the way of Life, Truth, and Love, Jesus demonstrated there is no death. The divine law is supreme and frees us “from the law of sin and death.” (Unity of Good, Mary Baker Eddy)

Suffering has been viewed as a confirmation of faith; people are content with spiritual grace. Some people view suffering as a symbol of worthiness to suffer for Christ.

However, the epiphany that God does not produce suffering, and does not expect undeserved suffering, can bring, and has brought, comfort and relief to human beings.

Contemporary Issues
The issues of abortion, homosexuality, divorce, politics, and doctoring are between a person and God. Church members who follow Christian Science as a religion may voice their opinions about contemporary issues, even with the tone of authority; however, the spiritual law of progress compels one to follow God, not opinions. Any person can study and practice Christian Science, even if not a member of church. From Science and Health, “While a course of medical study is at times severely condemned by some Scientists, she [Eddy] feels, as she always has felt, that all are privileged to work out their own salvation according to their light, and that our motto should be the Master’s counsel, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” (Matt. 7:1, KJV)