Re: Who is Mary Baker Eddy

Gene Tierney (divinecomedy@mindspring.com)
Thu, 25 Sep 1997 23:16:23 -0400 

For those of you who have inquiries in this regard [including RickL :)!],
here's just a little background info on Mary Baker Eddy, folks : (*grin*)
	
	Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910) founded the Christian Science denomination.
Eddy went to a faith healer/cultist named Phineas Quimby, and subsequently
became a teacher and healer herself. As she gathered a flock of followers,
Eddy started the society known as the Christian Scientists in Lynn,
Massachusetts, in 1875. The "religion" is rather unorthodox in its beliefs
although it's considered a variation of Protestantism, and has local
buildings, leaders, "readers," stated times and worship forms, as well as a
number of Christian Science "reading rooms" throughout various cities. Mrs.
Eddy based her new religion on the philosophy that "Nothing is real and
eternal; nothing is spirit--but God and His idea; evil has no reality."
According to critics, the "religion" holds to a belief in mind or faith
healing largely based on psychotherapy. According to some non-enthusiasts,
it has been especially effective with persons having neurotic and/or
egocentric personalities. Many devotees rely on Christian Science
practitioners instead of medical doctors, and such seeking of their own
"doctors" instead of doctors educated, trained, and certified in the
medical profession has drawn much criticism to Christian Science advocates. 

I hope this summary helps a little. 
		
                       Cheers!
                       Gene Tierney    






At 12:56 PM 9/25/97 -0400, you wrote:
>
>Hello... Does anyone know who Mary Baker Eddy is?
>
>In Zooey, It is mentioned that he Glass' took Zooey to have him
>tested... and later the late night phone call from Boston cames to tell
>Mr. & Mrs. Glass that their son Zooey, at age 12, has an English
>vocabulary on exact par with Mary Baker Eddy's...
>
>Who is SHE?
>
>RickL
>
>
>