Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (W.M.B.E.)

Rating:
Summary: Poorly written but an important contribution
Review: People feel strongly about this book: at one extreme are those who put it right up there with the scriptures while at the other extreme are those who condemn it as the sole cause of unnecessary and premature deaths due to its encouragement of healing by prayer alone. I am not a Christian Scientist but I have read this book and think that it is an important but very flawed contribution to American religious thought. There are serious faults to it: among other things, the author is a very poor writer. She rambles, repeats herself endlessly, has trouble with logical thinking and argumentation, gets lost in her own awkward victorian prose and then seems unable to find her way out, and has a very poor understanding of theology and philosophy. All of that being said, it must be remembered that many great spiritual books have been written by semi-illiterates who wrote out of their passionate understanding and experience of God. Mary Baker Eddy was onto something with her enthusiasm for healing with prayer. She just lacked the common sense and mental/writing skills to elucidate it in a clear and practical manner. Her unwavering faith comes through, however. Some of her insights are milestones and reveal an individual who speaks of God's love in a way that, I have no doubt, has healed many an individual. Relying solely upon prayer and refusing all medical care all of the time seems to me to be insane and pointless but I think that this would be one of the books I would want with me if I was battling a serious illness. I might make studying it part of my health regimen - but along with traditional and natural medicine. There are many pasages in this book which gave me a profound sense of peace and which opened my mind to a dramatically new way of looking at prayer and faith. The reader needs to read very critically, however, if he/she does not wish to fall into some of the dangers that Eddy's well meaning but naive teachings led the Christian Science movement into over the years. There is a germ of truth in this book that is valuable - finding it amid the dross takes some doing but is worth the effort - and may even heal. One might want to read this along with some literature from a christian science church that is not connected to the very dogmatic "Mother church" in Boston (The Plainfield Christian Science Church in New Jersey fills that bill and they have a website).

Rating:
Summary: Recommended regardless of religious affiliation
Review: The author, Mary Baker Eddy, was far ahead of her time both in what she understood about God and mankind, and what she accomplished as a woman over 100 years ago. Other authors have attempted to discuss such ideas as what is real, what is illusion, what is God, Life, Truth, evil, good, health, etc. but have fallen short in the consistancy of their reasoning and conclusions. This book does require a great deal of work from the reader in order to put into practice what is discussed. The author explains the Bible in a way that makes it meaningful in dealing with today's challenges. I find no contradictions here, only inspired thinking. I have actually had healings as a result of reading this book, and I recommend it to others regardless of religious affiliation.

Rating:
Summary: Author Way Ahead of Her Time - Fortunately for Us
Review: The author, Mary Baker Eddy, was far ahead of her time in what she not only understood about God and mankind, but what she accomplished as a woman over 100 years ago. Other authors have attempted to discuss such ideas as what is real, what is illusion, what is God, Life, Truth, evil, good, etc. but have fallen short in the consistancy of their reasoning and conclusions. I find no contradictions here, only inspired thinking. I have actually had healings as a result of reading this book, and I recommend it to others regardless of religious affiliation.

Rating:
Summary: It's not what it seems
Review: I spent many years studying Science and Health when I was a Christian Scientist. The book claims to offer a God-inspired, spiritually scientific method for healing and for overcoming all of life's "seeming" problems. In fact, it leads people into thinking patterns that cause them to mistrust their senses and to live in a state of denial. Many people suffer emotionally, spiritually, and physically by practicing what they learn in Science and Health. This is a dangerous book.

Rating:
Summary: A Book to share with "friend and foe"
Review: Before I ran into this book I bought many others on lifestyles, Lebenshilfe, religions, philosophies etc. With this book I have the feeling:this is what I was looking for and some of the ideas presented somehow sounded familiar although I wouldn't have been able to articulate them in this way. Mary Baker Eddy presents a liberating interpretation of the man and mission of Jesus Christ, what he said and HOW he healed and that it can be done today by you and me, too. And the amazing thing is that here religion seems not at all apart from everyday living -on the contrary- the way the author explains it, it can be an integral part of - I am sure- everyone's life because it is so practical and - yes- healing. I was freed from uncertain fears just by reading the book.No other book had a similar impact on my view of people and things. It's for people who want to go beyond the surface. Highly recommendable.

Rating:
Summary: This Book Unlocks The Bible, Destroys Sin
Review: This 700-page book opened up my understanding of God and the Bible light-years beyond what many traditional theological views ever did. It also helped me give up and destroy appetites for alcohol, tobacco, foul language, pornography, gambling and other forms of laciviousness. It eliminated my dependence on matter for healing and allowed me to trust all my cares to God. This is a book you won't read once. Re-reading it unlocks the Bible's healing message and strengthens your trust in the efficacy of prayer and in the power of the Almighty.

Rating:
Summary: God is not a Santa Claus
Review: Out of the 12 previous reviews, 10 of them speak of what the reader GOT instead of what they GAVE. The idea of approaching the Almighty with the hand out & the agenda outlined speaks for itself & also for the main thrust of this book's teachings. The book will indeed "change your life" but maybe not in the way you had planned. As my C.S. relatives used to say, "Don't think for yourself. We'll tell you what to think." Oh yes, all but one of them have died premature & needless deaths & that one eagerly agreed to medical care when the need came. Sorry but I've seen it all, read the book (& had it read to me) numerous times, heard the testimonies & seen the "miraculous" healings & I'm not impressed. The only possible "positive" (to some) would be it's a good way for the practitioner and/or "teacher" (after only a few WEEKS of training) to augment their income.

Rating:
Summary: A book that heals
Review: Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy is truly a healing book. It has helped me with numerous problems (physical, financial, etc.). Everything is well covered, easily understood. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to read/study this book, and highly recommend it to all!

Rating:
Summary: The most definitive work on Christian Science.
Review: Keep an open mind and read it from cover to cover for a life-enriching experience. Challenges the 'obvious' just as any scientific exploration does. Helps tremendously in understanding the Bible.

Rating:
Summary: "They just don't understand"
Review: This is the often repeated explanation of CS devotees when they or their "religion" is criticized. As someone who was brought up in this arena, and married as soon as I was legally able to escape it & secure medical help, I can testify that this book will indeed "change your life." But who wants that kind of a change? I & others in my family (who survived) were denied medical, dental & optical care as well as reading materials other than CS literature. At present, a teenage boy in our family is seriously ill with a condition that has been allowed to progress beyond a stage when cure would have been simple & swift. Are the parents looking for help other than CS? No! They are in the process of moving to a state that has more liberal laws toward this type of child abuse. The problem is we do "understand" & want desperately to end this horror before it kills any more children.