Article February 8, 2010 Issue

MARY BAKER EDDY AND SCIENTIFIC PRAYER

BY SHERRY DARLING

On this rock of Christ's prayer Christian Science plants its standard of healing in contradistinction to all other forms of mortal mind cure, faith cure or any other mental or material process of healing the sick.—Mary Baker Eddy

When Mary Baker Eddy experienced spiritual healing after a severe fall in February 1866, her life could have turned out very differently from what it did.

That healing could have simply confirmed her religious faith. She had always had a deep regard for the Bible and the power of prayer, and could have taken the healing, which recovered her from injuries that were considered life-threatening, as proof of the efficacy of turning to the Bible and God. That would have been remarkable on its own. Even if Mrs. Eddy had just expressed her heartfelt gratitude for her healing and then went back to her normal life, it still would have been significant.