Article August 22, 2005 Issue

WHY I AM A CHRISTIAN SCIENTIST

with contributions from Toye Olawuwo, Karen Knight, Eric Nickerson, Ann Kenrick, Nate Mozzer, Name removed by request, Indu Malhotra, Emma Asmaryan

By Toye Olawuwo
Lagos, Nigeria

I am a student of student of Christian Science because, in 1978, I was presented with a copy of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. I had been diagnosed with a heart problem, and it got to the point that medical treatment could help me no longer. I was born a Muslim, but I decided to seek the help of various Christian pastors. They prayed for me, but I received no significant benefit.

A Christian Scientist came to live in the compound where I was living. He saw my situation and offered me Science and Health, saying it would help me. I found it difficult to accept that I could read this book and be benefited physically. As I read the book, my health crisis became even more serious and I didn't want to read any further. I did not yet know what chemicalization was, but that is what was going on in my life, as the ideas I encountered in Science and Health brought to mind all the false beliefs that I was holding and needed to be rid of (see Science and Health, p.401).