Article July 28, 1986 Issue

The Christianity of Christian Science

J. DARROW KIRKPATRICK

Have you just recently become acquainted with Christian Science and wondered about the Christianity of its teachings? Or have you met people who claim this Science is not Christian?

Learning from early years in a Christian Science Sunday School to treasure the life and teachings of Christ Jesus and to follow in his way, I have had no doubt that Christian Science is Christian and thought it was so understood universally. Recently though, I learned that some do not recognize this fact.

I was spending a few nights in a motel and had taken to getting up early to study the Bible Lesson^{In the Christian Science Quarterly.} on a small balcony overlooking the motel's patio area. One morning a man stopped to pass a few pleasantries and upon finding out I was a Christian Scientist, responded, "Oh, that is the group founded by—," and he named someone quite unlike the actual Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy.