Page 135 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

CHRISTIANITY - CHRISTMAS

that the Bible contains many mistakes and her “key” is and lessons. There is no pastor as such in Christian
necessary to properly interpret the Bible and unlock its Science congregations. There are two “readers,” usually
mystical secrets. In 1876 she established the Christian a man and a woman; in all services on Sundays and
Scientists Association and three years later changed its Thanksgiving Day, they read alternately from the Bible
name to The Church of Christ, Scientist, and it grew and from Science and Health. A midweek meeting,
quickly until the first quarter of the 20th century. conducted by the first reader alone, features testimonies
Chronically ill and emotionally unstable, Mary of healing.
Patterson (her second husband’s name) was powerfully Christian Science appeals to intellectuals and
influenced by mental healer Phineas P. Quimby mystics. It is a gnostic-type faith, something only the
(1802-1866). Quimby, a student of hypnotist Anton supposedly wise and initiated can understand and
Mesmer, believed that illness and disease was an illusion appreciate. Those who scoff its strange ideas are
created by wrong thinking and that it could be cured oftentimes looked down upon and pitied.
through “correct” and positive thoughts. Mary claimed Many also follow this false religion because it
that Quimby cured her through his hypnotism, and after promises physical healing. A large number of its
his death in 1866 she even claimed that she was visited followers are elderly. Rather than going to doctors,
by his ghost. Though she renounced Quimby, she Christian Scientists try to convince themselves that there
derived much of her teaching from his writings, without is no such thing as sickness. Christian Science
giving him credit, claiming instead that her teachings Practitioners are called in to help sufferers have faith in
came directly from God. the unreality of illness. It is true that some have been
Eddy taught that sickness and death are not real. healed of various problems, but this does not necessarily
Instead of doctors and medicine, Christian Scientists use mean they were healed by God. Witch doctors and New
“Practitioners” who are trained to help the sick person Age practioners sometimes practice successful healings.
see through the “false reality of illness.” The Bible warns that Satan and false teachers perform
Mary Baker Eddy’s “Scientific Statement of Being,” great miracles (Mt. 7:22-23; 24:24; 2 Th. 2:7-12; Re.
which is read every week in every Christian Science 13:11-15). It is true, also, that many illnesses are
congregation, says: “There is no life, truth, intelligence, psychological in nature and therefore respond favorably
nor substance in matter. All is infinite Mind and its to mental suggestion. It is also true that God, in His
infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all. Spirit is great mercy, extends His blessings even to those who do
immortal Truth; matter is mortal error. Spirit is the real not obey His Word (Mt. 5:45). [See Healing.]
and eternal; matter is the unreal and temporal. Spirit is Christians are told to avoid those who teach false
God, and man is His image and likeness. Therefore man things and should therefore avoid the Christian Science
is not material; he is spiritual.” Church (Ro. 16:17-18; 2 Jn. 10-11). [See Doctrine, False
Christian Science teaches that men are not sinful and Teaching, Separation.]
that they do not need to be saved. Jesus did not actually CHRISTIANITY. The beliefs and practices of
die nor shed His blood. There is no Satan, sin, Christians. Christianity usually refers to everything
judgment, or hell. According to Christian Science, God is which claims to be Christian, even to that which is not
everything--“all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, patterned according to the N.T. [See Christendom.]
all-loving, and eternal; Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; CHRISTMAS. Christmas is the celebration of the
Life; Truth; Love; all substance; intelligence.” Man is a birth of Christ. It refers to Christ’s mass, which obviously
part of God and all he needs is to recognize it. Thus has a Roman Catholic origin. Normally it is observed on
anything that appears to be evil is only a mirage of sorts December 25. The practice was popularized by the
and is not real: “All reality is in God and His creation, Catholic Church, and like many other Catholic
harmonious and eternal. That which He creates is good, traditions, it was adopted from paganism; in this case,
and He makes all that is made. Therefore the only from the pagan mid-winter solstice marking the turn of
reality of sin, sickness, or death is the awful fact that the year. The following is a brief overview of its origin:
unrealities seem real to human, erring belief, until God “Saturnalia extended from December 17 to 24 and in
strips off their disguise. They are not true, because they A.D. 274 the emperor Aurelian made December 25 a
are not of God.” feast of the invincible sun. January 6 was sacred to
Christian Science congregations are directed rather Dionysus. With the toleration of Christianity under
autocratically from the “mother church” in Boston. The Constantine, both December 25 and January 6 became
lesson-sermons of Sunday services are prepared by a Christianized feasts (Christmas and Epiphany,
central committee and issued quarterly by the Christian respectively). Symbols, originating largely from classical
Science Publishing Society, and all congregations or Teutonic-Celtic paganism, such as lights, greenery,
throughout the world follow exactly the same program and special foods, gradually became associated with

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 135