Article March 20, 1948 Issue

Basic Teaching

Frequently the question comes from the Field, To what extent may a Sunday School teacher use the various books of Bible stories written for children?

In the official work of the Christian Science church, no books are used except those which are published or sold by The Christian Science Publishing Society. And it is an established practice in the Field to take into the Sunday School classes only the Bible, the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, and the Christian Science Quarterly.

In their private study some Sunday School teachers have found certain books of Bible stories useful for background information in connection with Biblical characters and episodes, but it is to be remembered that however well the stories may be presented from a factual, historical, or moral standpoint, Bible story books cannot be used as a guide in teaching Christian Science to Sunday School classes. This is clearly implied in Section 1 of Article IV of the Church Manual, where our Leader specifies the qualifications for an applicant for membership in The Mother Church. Here she states, "The Bible, together with Science and Health and other works by Mrs. Eddy, shall be his only textbooks for self-instruction in Christian Science, and for teaching and practising metaphysical healing."

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