Christian Science and the Origins (USA)

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE ("Church of Christ, Scientist") Belief in Deities: God is incorporeal Spirit -- creative Principle, supreme, omnipotent Father-Mother, omnipresent, omniscient -- the only intelligence and all that actually exists. God is Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, and Love. "God is All-in-all." Incarnations: We are all incarnations of God. Jesus was the Christ, divine Exemplar, and the divine idea of sonship -- the Master. Jesus showed the way (the "Wayshower") for all to realize Truth, which is God. We are all sons/daughters of God. Origin of universe and life: The universe and humans are reflections of God's likeness and image, which is Spirit -- without beginning or end. Illusions, or delusions, of a material world and material body result from an error in thought and ignorance of the true and only nature of reality, which is spiritual. God is all that truly exists. After death: Death is the belief in death. There is no death as humans are immortal Spirit. After that which we call "death," spiritual development toward Truth continues until all evil, or "error," destroys itself. Heaven and hell are not places, but states of consciousness that continue after death. "Heaven" is the self-made eternal bliss of realizing oneness with God. "Hell" is the self-made anguish of believing in pain and death. Why evil? Evil is the belief in evil. God is all that is real and God is completely good; therefore, good is real and evil is an illusion/delusion. The only power evil has is to destroy itself; attempts to destroy good naturally result in punishment for the evildoer. Sin creates its own hell. Not realizing one's true nature as Spirit results in selfishness, which can lead to error and disharmony. Salvation: Salvation lies in bringing oneself into harmony with one's true nature as God's reflection, through good works, patience, meekness, love, watchfulness, prayerful gratitude, devout obedience in following Christ's example. There are two basic commandments: that one turn only to God, perfect Mind, for guidance -- the Mind that was also in Christ; and, that one "love thy neighbor as thyself." Healing and immortality are achieved through consciousness that the only true reality is God, which is Love, and that one's true and only nature is in God's likeness. As one realizes the error of belief in the reality of suffering and evil, these images of thought impressed upon the mortal mind can be altered, thus banishing sickness, death, and sin -- testimony to the power of faith in God, of Mind over matter. Why suffering: Suffering is the belief in suffering, an illusion/delusion (or error) of mortal thought. Issues: The church claims no position on abortion. Conventional medicine is not forbidden but is often eschewed even in cases of serious conditions, as a basic tenet of the faith is that sickness is an illusion and that Christian Science healing is effective. Christian Science Practitioners may be called upon to provide healing prayers and consultation on treatment. Homosexuality is sometimes regarded by adherents negatively, as a condition that requires healing through Christian Science practices. The Mother Church has recently (the mid-2000s) extended a welcoming and non-judgmental stance regarding sexual orientation.