Comparison: Christian Science and Scientology

Christian Science is often easily confused with Scientology due to the common use of “science” in both religious titles. After forming a foundation of knowledge of both religions it is evident that although they are very different, they do have some similarities. Christian Science is heavily based o the idea of science in a “mind over matter” perspective, believing that the spiritual world is the most important and essential world while anything else such as illness is an illusion. Through these beliefs Church of Christian Science believes that mental healing is the first step to healing physical illnesses.  Similar to this belief, Scientology believes that everyone has a thetan or individualized identity that correlates to the cosmic source/ life force meaning. From this, one can see that both religions similarly believe that there is a greater mental and spiritual identity in individuals beyond the normal reality. Even with its similarities there are major differences that separate the two religions completely. The Church of Christian Science is more closely related to any other form of Christianity. Similar to other Christian religions, Christian Science uses the Bible as its text and fully believes in God and his teachings. While on the other hand Scientology is not recognized as a Christian religion because the do not acknowledge the Bible, God, or Jesus within their practices.

Ecology

Given the religion Christian Science has the word science in it automatically eludes to the fact that it has some relation to ecology and the science of the relationships between organisms and their environments. Considering that the religion is founded on the use of healing in natural ways it is clear that the members of Christian science relate their well being with becoming one with God, themselves, and the world around them. Most things are based off of the mind over matter aspects therefore they rebuke negativity such as illness and chaos in the world and instead embrace the natural world around them that was created out of the likeness of Christ.

Geography: The First Church of Christ, Scientist and the Christian Science Plaza

These three images are of the First Church of Christ, Scientist which is located in Boston, Massachusetts at the Christian Science Plaza.

Primary Practice: Healing

Healing is an extremely important part of the Christian Science faith. To Christian Scientists, healing is not altering the state of one’s body. It is realizing the truth about man and his place in the universe. This realization is not simply an intellectual one, but it is the true realization of spiritual ideas of Life and Truth that can only be found through God. Christian Scientists attribute all true power, goodness, and intelligence to God and the divine Mind. What the divine Mind knows is pure goodness as it is its own universal perfection. There is nothing else outside of what God knows. Thought that is tied to the all-loving Mind must in turn be good; it can give us strength. In essence, knowing that which is truth for the purpose of spiritual healing is knowing who we innately are. The realization of this truth makes us free in every aspect of the word: spiritually, morally, physically and mentally.

The Christian healing treatment works with the Mind, and not with material objects. Although the effects of the treatment may appear to be in the physical realm, it is carried out completely in the mental realm. The treatment that Christian Scientists seek is the correction of false thought with that which is true. The choice of thoughts then, and in turn choosing which thoughts are actually true is the underlying concept of Christian Science healing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B9oUPoxrSU

Primary Practice: Sunday School

Sunday school is an extremely important part of the Christian Science faith, as teaching and learning are crucial to the religion. Each Sunday school class is designed to serve and educate the needs of each individual student. The material covered in the classes is based on the Bible, and the goal is to gain new insight into the Bible through the help of Eddy’s Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. Students of every age are taught the Lord’s Prayer and Eddy’s spiritual interpretation of it, the Ten Commandments, and the Sermon on the Mount. In the classes, there is a strong emphasis on the idea that everyone can practice the spiritual healing ideas that are brought up in the sessions.

Sunday School begins with the Superintendent calling all the students together. Next, there is singing and the group begins to focus on a certain theme of the week’s Bible Lesson. Everyone is encouraged to read together, pray in private, and then pray the Lord’s Prayer out loud. Students are then divided into different classes, which each class time spent differently on every Sunday. These classes are a time for healing, learning, study, questioning, and practicing. After the classes finish, everyone gathers together to sing again and to read the “scientific statement of being” that can be found in Science and Health.