Pretend You Don't See The Elephant

I disagree with many statements made by the previous reveiwer. I believe that many of us were discouraged from seeking medical care--branch church membership, for instance, required that the applicant not be using medicine. Further, Mary Baker Eddy, in her textbook, Science and Health with key to the scriptures, makes many statements about the incompatibility of medicine and use of Christian Science. Finally, if a CS chooses medical care, they will then not be able to use or continue using the services of a CS practitioner (ie, CS who are paid to pray for others). The loss of even one child through reliance on this theology is too many, but I have never have heard censure for any CS who allowed their children to die from easily treatable diseases (ie, juvenile diabetes). I also thought that the use of CS prayer as a way to avoid confronting and dealing with dysfunctionality in families was spot on. This book is definitely worth reading.

There is not much Theology of Christian Science, however the author gives a good sense of the lack of care, support, and affection received from a Christian Science parent. In the book the author has her appendix rupture and her mother would rather watch her "die" (which is unreal in Christian Science), read Science and Health by Eddy, than to have her receive medical care. A pastor from another denomination takes her to the hospital where she is operated on and lives. This reminds me of the Twitchell trial in Boston years ago. The parents and practitioner watch as the 2 1/2 boy vomits excrement and dies due to a bowel obstruction. They were demonstrating that he is a perfect child of God. They pretended not to see the elephant. This is an interesting read. For more information see Caroline Fraser's excellent work, "God's Perfect Child."