Science and Health (ePub)

Mary Baker Glover Eddy (1821-1910) was a prominent American religious leader, who founded Christian Science, a new religious movement, emerging in the United States in the latter half of the 19th century. Eddy's seminal work, 'Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures', embodies the core teachings of Christian Science. Published in 1875, this text expounds upon the metaphysical underpinnings of her thought, arguing for the divine power of spiritual healing and the primacy of mind over matter. Eddy's work not only underscores the healing practices central to Christian Science but also engages with contemporary religious and scientific discourses. Her literary style is characterized by a concerted effort to articulate and harmonize the relationship between faith, reason, and empirical evidence, illustrating her view that spiritual understanding could be attained through systematic study and reflection, akin to scientific inquiry. While her ideas faced criticism and controversy, they contributed substantially to alternative approaches to religion and health in America. Her influence extends through the network of Christian Science churches, practitioners, and followers who see 'Science and Health' as a seminal text offering insight into divine laws and the nature of reality as understood through a spiritual lens.