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The Church of Christ, Scientist

     The Church of Christ, Scientist, also influenced by New Thought, was founded by Mary Baker Eddy.  In 1866 Eddy reported a nearly instantaneous cure from a severe back injury after reading an account of one of Jesus' healings.  Consequently, she began to believe that all people should strive, like Christ, to realize completely their relationship with God. Eddy officially incorporated the church in 1879 and it is based at Boston, Massachusetts.  Along with the Bible, her Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (published in 1875) is the source of Christian Science teaching.  According to Christian Scientists, Christ brought an end to such human-divine separation and consequently, everyone can be redeemed from sickness and sin.  Furthermore, since all that God created is good, sin, sickness, and death have no inherent reality.  These entities only appear real because of our erring human thought.  In many instances relying on the power of God, rather than medical treatment, for healing, adherents believe that the causes of and cures for illness are spiritual rather than material.  Moreover, Christian Science practitioners are specially trained by the church to assist those who seek healing through prayer.  Rather than a personalized deity, God is thought of as a divine "Principle, Love, Mind, Spirit, Soul, Life, and Truth".