“We had some excitement at work! Dude down the hall from me had a panic attack, but he got calmed down and was fine. He went home.”
And the Catholic Church requires “confirmation” of miracles before certifying them as genuine. They are up to 67 so far at Lourdes alone.
Such “certification” or “verification” doesn’t meet scientific standards in the slightest. The inherent bias alone is enough to make it worthless. For such an extraordinary claim, a lot more rigorous proof is needed. A formal study in a peer-reviewed journal would be a start. Got one of those?
Bolding mine.
I can understand the skepticism, and if not for my personal experiences would be skeptical myself.
However, I went from being unable to climb two flights of stairs, which I had previously run up for years, without stopping to let the arm and chest pain diminish, to suddenly being able to run up them again. the condition developed over a period of months and toward the end rapidly got worse.
I had been an army sergreant as a young man and was very much into mind over matter. I didn’t want to turn into an old (at 55) man who had to change his lifestyle because of heart problems. I was in total denial.
Although I never sought medical attention. I seemed to have all the markers of blockage.
I did have a thorough physical a few months after the episode and no problems were found.
I had an EKG a year ago when I turned 70 to renew a term policy. No problems were found and I was renewed to age 80. I am in excellent condition and run and do hard physical work with no problems
The thing that started my studying of Christian Science was the amazing elevation of thought and sense of peace that accompanied the healing. I had never felt anything like it in my life. I have read accounts of near death experiences that were similar.
I was always a hard science type and spent my working life as an electronic designer, microprocessor programmer, and small company owner.
There is a lot more to this life experience than most of us appreciate. I am very grateful for the experience and the enlarged spiritual component of my life that has come from studying Christian Science.
It really does work.
I went past the place where I had the hornet nest experience a few months ago, and the crushed nest was still there. It really happened.
I will say again that your attempt at self-diagnosis without proper medical followup makes your story highly suspect, and this last bit of yours is the equivalent of saying “I went to the park and walked on water last year. I went back to the park a couple of months ago and the lake was still there. It really happened.” Honestly, if I had made that claim to you in passing, would you have accepted it without question?
This is a prime example of a post hoc fallacy.
It means that if B follows A, A caused B. A rooster crows and the sun comes up. Did the rooster make it happen?
It’s a very human tendency to credit the treatment to an improvement, but it’s scientifically worthless. The only person you are convincing is yourself. For all you know, the condition might have improved on its own.
Here is a video by a noted Christian Science healer that has information on specific cases: http://christianscience.com/prayer-and-health/inspiration/online-lectures/how-relying-on-god-brings-healing-57-mins-eng
MICRDICK, I’m curious and would like to know more.
If my residual self image is harmed in this world will I be hurt in the real world? I mean, I know that my mind makes it real. I understand that disease and injury are based in a world that is built on rules and because of that they will never be as fast or as strong as I can be. But it’s hard to let it all go; my fear, doubt and disbelief. There’s a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.
Thanks.
I have had no experiences with CS but it strikes me as a particularly inept theology that blames victims for their illnesses and also turns god from anything remotely interesting into a divine slot machine.
Apparently, I’m still amazed by the assholes who earn money by exploiting the suffering under the guise of religion.
Also, I am actually offended by their use of the word ‘science’.
That video is 57 minutes long. While don’t you save us some time and tell us how many minutes in is the information given?
What other healthful practices does CS promote besides healing through prayer? Does the doctrine also put emphasis on healthy living in the first place, such as regular exercise, avoid tobacco and alcohol, and a healthy diet (maybe even vegetarian)? I’m wondering, for example, how CS compares in these aspects with, say, the Adventists, who promote healthful living and make it part of their doctrine?
I guess the question is: “If the CS worldview is correct, then why is it in decline”?
I’d love to dispense with doctors, hospitals, proctological exams, etc.
But CS “healing” doesn’t seem to work:
-CS people die
-CS people get diseases and broken legs
So, I’ll stick with the reality of the physical world-it works for me.
My paternal grandparents and their parents were all Christian Scientists. Grandpa died at 51 and his dad dies at 51 - both of easily treatable illnesses. Although Grandma lived to 87 (and was a touring lecturer in the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy), her parents died at 44 and 61.
I am convinced that hope and a positive outlook can improve one’s well-being. But I think this particular religion is a little more deluded than most (although I think all of them are bullshit anyway).
And it probably cost me the opportunity to ever meet my grandfather.
MICRDICK = microdick? Amirite?
Psst…see post #26.
A while ago I attended a lecture given by one of the CS profs at my uni on Christian Science. I see the notes from that talk are still up and provide more cites than I could muster.
The point that stuck with me at the time (but seems to have been only partially captured in the notes) is the study that found that CS practitioners die slightly younger than non-CS practitioners, even though CS doctrine prohibits smoking – the #1 cause of life-shortening in the modern age. And religious sects that prohibit smoking but have a more conventional view of medicine do give their practitioners a statistically significant lifespan boost.
The CS Textbook says that after leaving this experience there is a period of probation and growth in which your beliefs that support imperfection are seen through. I think if you cultivate an ability to connect with the Creator, who is Pure Unconditional Love, and attempt to follow the Golden Rule, that you will be doing the best thing you can do while here.
IMHO Christian Science Practitioners are the best part of Christian Science. They spend their lives being connected to God, and for a very modest fee will both heal problems and teach you how to handle them yourself. I have received help from them on electronic design problems and business problems with amazingly positive results, often seeing an entirely new way to address a problem.
Having been involved with CS since 1995, it appears that in the last few years the decline has reversed and it is now growing fairly rapidly.
There is no prohibition against using medical technology, the whole idea is to remove the need to use it. Several people in my branch church use various medications, and there is no condemnation of any sort. The idea is to connect with God and experience the elevated consciousness that provides.
People die all the time, but whenever someone practicing CS dies, the claim is immediately made that CS was the reason.
As I have said earlier in this thread, since the original amazing healing, I have relied on prayer to provide guidance on whether to use medical technology or work on it myself through silent prayer. I have been led in both directions at various times.
The BIG revelation, which I think is correct, is that we are truly living in the ultimate virtual reality game, and there are good ways and bad ways to act, and there is a test at the end.
If we love our neighbor, and bless those that curse us, this experience can be wonderful and beautiful.
As Paul wrote in First Thessalonians:
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesyings.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
The emphasis in CS is on connecting with God, and the expectation is that as you succeed in doing that you will find yourself practicing a healthy lifestyle.
I have found that many of my unhealthy habits have just vanished.
The advice in the various CS publications is spiritual. I have never seen any articles on what to eat or how to exercise. Most CS’ers that I know practice a healthy lifestyle but it is not usually discussed.
One thing that has become apparent to me as I have aged, I am now 71, is how much time my contemporaries spend talking about their ailments and medications. It is a blessing to be among Christian Scientists so I don’t have to listen to that. Empty lives can be filled with endlessly trying to fix a declining bod, and there is a lot of that going on. Too bad it is so expensive.