Christian scientists and disability

[Magrat]

I'm reading this book about christian science. She explains that they don't believe in contagion or illness, and they pray if someone believes they are ill or injured. She talks about breaking her ankle and having chicken pox.

What happens if a christian scientist has a baby with a disability? Or if they're injured severely, like when I broke my neck? I looked online but I didn't see where they had anything about it on their sites (of course, they don't believe it exists). Does anyone have experience with christian science?

Eta what about learning disabilities? You can't pray away dyslexia.

 

[deaman]

Humans will believe any damn thing, no matter how unrealistic, if they think it will give them some kind of a benefit towards their existence.

 

[Magrat]

Humans will believe any damn thing, no matter how unrealistic, if they think it will give them some kind of a benefit towards their existence.

Well Yea. I'm trying to figure out how they rationalize major injury or disability though. You can't claim a broken neck doesn't exist, is what I'm saying, so do they say?

 

[Dancing David]

I was raised in the church of christ science, I don't think they would deny the fact of a disability.

However the loonie ones believe that prayer is the way to go, the less loonie ones see a doctor when they are really sick. Mary Baker Eddy spends a lot times talking about lots of things...

I am glad to be rid of it

 

[Magrat]

I was raised in the church of christ science, I don't think they would deny the fact of a disability.

However the loonie ones believe that prayer is the way to go, the less loonie ones see a doctor when they are really sick. Mary Baker Eddy spends a lot times talking about lots of things...

I am glad to be rid of it

Do they get vaccinations? I'm assuming not. And do they see a difference between diseases you're born with (say, type I diabetes) and stuff you contract?

 

[MikeG]

Christian science? That's got to be one of the all time classic oxymorons.

 

[TubbaBlubba]

The Christan Science Monitor is a really great newspaper though.

 

[p0lka]

I'm reading this book about christian science. She explains that they don't believe in contagion or illness, and they pray if someone believes they are ill or injured. She talks about breaking her ankle and having chicken pox.

What happens if a christian scientist has a baby with a disability? Or if they're injured severely, like when I broke my neck? I looked online but I didn't see where they had anything about it on their sites (of course, they don't believe it exists). Does anyone have experience with christian science?

Eta what about learning disabilities? You can't pray away dyslexia.

They have a special part of their thinking that's surrounded by brackets, it has GOD in the brackets.

Christian science? That's got to be one of the all time classic oxymorons.

Thank God i'm an atheist.

 

[Magrat]

“Can I call your mom? Would you like to go home?” I nod. She dials our number, but there is no answer. I remember that Mom plays tennis on Thursday mornings and there is no way to reach her, so the nurse looks up something in my file and tells me she is calling Dad at the office.
“… she is white as a ghost,” the nurse explains when he answers. “Sure, she’s right here.”
The nurse looks over at me and tilts her head sweetly. “Would you like to talk to your dad?”
I get up and move to her desk. “Hi, Dad,” I say. “Hi, kiddo.” “I threw up.” “Would you like me to pray for you?” I look at the nurse. “Can I go home?” I ask Dad. I want him to say yes.
“That might not be necessary,” he says. “Lucia, you, as God’s perfect creation, cannot be sick. You are the perfect reflection of God.”
“Can you come get me?” I whisper. I stare at the floor, because I know the nurse is looking at me.
He goes on. “Mrs. Eddy says, ‘Let unselfishness, goodness, mercy, justice, health, holiness, love—the kingdom of heaven—reign within us, and sin, disease, and death will diminish until they finally disappear.’ ”
There is silence now, and I am trying to concentrate on what Dad is saying, about disease disappearing if I fill my thoughts with goodness, health, and love, but my eyes are filling with unwelcome tears. My fingers fiddle with the phone cord. I’m embarrassed that the nurse is listening, and Dad is not offering to come get me. “… you needn’t give in to the erroneous suggestions of mortal mind. You cannot be sick, Lucia. Jesus said, ‘Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.’ ” I wipe my eyes with my sleeve.
“Loosh?” Dad asks. “Do you think you’d like to go back to class?”
“Yes,” I say. But what I’d really like is to be in my bed. At home. With Mom.
“That’s wonderful,” Dad says. “I know you’re going to feel fine.”
I say good-bye and hand the phone to the nurse. “My dad’s going to call my mom again and she’ll come get me,” I tell her.

From the book I linked above.

I'm trying to understand this though process. Your child vomited. You can't deny the vomit happened. How do you deny the child is sick?

I'm not trying to defend Christian Science or anything, I'm just super curious about this idea of denying illness and injury. I can't imagine how it could be possible to convince people this is a thing. There's 400,000 people who believe it can be done.

The reading rooms, if I go there is there someone who answers questions about this religion or no? I think there is maybe one in Glens Falls. I think there used to be, not sure if it is still there.

David, are you still christian? Your name would make it appear so. When did you leave christian science and was this denial of medicine why?

 

[fibbermcgee]

My Mom was a Christian Scientist. I went to CS Sunday school for a while. My last appearance occurred after I had missed a Sunday. The teacher wanted to know where I had been. I told him I had a cold. He told me that if believed correctly that wouldn't have happened. I refused to go again. It was the final straw that convinced me that religion was a bunch of baloney.

Some years after that when I was in high school my Mom refused to sign a permit that would allow me to get Polio Vaccine. I forged her name and got it any way.

I believe my Mom was a CS because of a deathly fear of doctors. As crazy as it sounds there are a lot of people that know they are healthy but if they see a doctor they will be diagnosed with a disease and die.

A childhood friend of mine was a CS. He was obese all his life. They called it large boned back in the day. He loved history, received his PhD from UCLA and was a prof at San Diego State. He died of a heart attack in his late 40's.

I don't believe a broken bone was considered a disease. So no problem getting a cast. And it is true that the Monitor is a very good paper. It always seemed to me that church members were older fairly well to do folks. However that was a lifetime ago and I may be wring about that.

 

[Magrat]

Fibber that's fascinating. I understand about the "going to the doctor will make me sick" thing. My friend died a few months ago of liver cancer. He was very obviously sick for several years. Turns out he had had hepatitis, that could have treated and prevented him getting the cancer that killed him. So basically his fear of the doctor caused him to die. Of course he said see I went and I have cancer!

What about disabled people? Do you recall there being any in the CS community?

 

[fibbermcgee]

Fibber that's fascinating. I understand about the "going to the doctor will make me sick" thing. My friend died a few months ago of liver cancer. He was very obviously sick for several years. Turns out he had had hepatitis, that could have treated and prevented him getting the cancer that killed him. So basically his fear of the doctor caused him to die. Of course he said see I went and I have cancer!

What about disabled people? Do you recall there being any in the CS community?

Now that you mention it do not remember any disabled people. I forgot to mention CS practitioners. These were people that you would give money to and they would somehow work with god on your behalf or something. I was never clear on the concept.

In church they would do responsive readings. Something from the "Key to the Scriptures" Then a reply from the Bible. No Bible thumpers though. Nice people and low key.

 

[Magrat]

What about elderly people? Without medical care did they tend to die relatively young? I mean, we are talking about refusing blood pressure medication, diabetes care, arthritis stuff...? Seems like elderly people would struggle.

 

[fuelair]

Christian science? That's got to be one of the all time classic oxymorons.

And believed by many morons - who will, of course, not take anything for pain - even oxy......... Thus the oxymoron thing!!!!!

 

[fuelair]

What about elderly people? Without medical care did they tend to die relatively young? I mean, we are talking about refusing blood pressure medication, diabetes care, arthritis stuff...? Seems like elderly people would struggle.

Not if they think it is all god's will and when their time comes he will scarf their dead asses up to him!!!!!

 

[Thor 2]

From the book I linked above.

I'm trying to understand this though process. Your child vomited. You can't deny the vomit happened. How do you deny the child is sick?

I'm not trying to defend Christian Science or anything, I'm just super curious about this idea of denying illness and injury. I can't imagine how it could be possible to convince people this is a thing. There's 400,000 people who believe it can be done.

The reading rooms, if I go there is there someone who answers questions about this religion or no? I think there is maybe one in Glens Falls. I think there used to be, not sure if it is still there.

David, are you still christian? Your name would make it appear so. When did you leave christian science and was this denial of medicine why?

Well this nonsense does extend beyond CS. When my brother was diagnosed as having cancer his family and friends got into some serious praying. I didn't hear anything about medical treatment like chemo at the time. He died.

Undeterred his son has gone on to minister to others and claims success in curing all manner of ailments, from cancer to acne, and even cures homosexuality. All of these maladies are caused by demons he claims.

Do the CS talk about demons?

 

[Thor 2]

And believed by many morons - who will, of course, not take anything for pain - even oxy......... Thus the oxymoron thing!!!!!

I don't think they are morons - just deluded. Think of all the people who have come out of religious belief and show up as being very intelligent.

Calling these people morons may not be the best approach, if we want to have some success in helping them escape the bubble they are in.

 

[logger]

Humans will believe any damn thing, no matter how unrealistic, if they think it will give them some kind of a benefit towards their existence.

And some will read the most ridiculous books, for some strange reason. Maybe they have nothing to do.

 

[fibbermcgee]

Maybe things have changed but the CS I knew were pragmatic enough that I think they would have eventually had medical treatment. My Mother smoked 4 packs a day. She was obviously ill and wouldn't see a doctor. Her sister finally got her to go to one but it was too late and she died about two months later at 75. Most of the women on her side of the family lived to at least 90.

I never heard talk of demons. As I said before not that kind of church. People got ill and the illness could be fought. The last thing you would ever see would be a CS knocking on your door with "good news".

The exact method of not becoming sick or fighting an illness I have no idea.

 

[Thor 2]

And some will read the most ridiculous books, for some strange reason. Maybe they have nothing to do.

Just why is this book ridiculous?

A book like this can be most informative. We have an account of how someone managed to escape the religious indoctrination she was brought up in. How she did it can be of great interest and help to us who are trying to help others to do the same.