Ex-Evangelical

[Aleighus]

I was raised Evangelical Free. If you're not familiar with their brand of Christianity, the statement of faith is here.

I have many memories of feeling inadequate in the eyes of their god. One of my first religious memories is how I was scared to fall asleep too slowly after saying my night time prayers. I thought that if I accidentally committed a sin, then died in my sleep, I would instantly go to hell. Fun times.

I have only recently started "coming out" as atheist. My brothers are also leaning toward atheism. None of us have been very religious (if at all) since we moved away from the church. My mother is religious, but I don't know what she identifies with. My father is pretty non-religious now. My extended family is either Catholic or Christian Scientist. My husband was raised Catholic. He is also now an atheist.

It's been a long time, but I will answer questions as I remember.

[KichigaiNeko]

[Confused Ape]

Hello. Hope you enjoy the forum.

[Losty]

What is a Christian Scientist.

[Minimalist]

An oxymoron.

[Aleighus]

What is a Christian Scientist.

An oxymoron.

^ Seriously. They believe that if you pray hard enough you will get healed from whatever malady you are experiencing.

Christian Scientists see their religion as consistent with Christian theology, despite key differences.[9] In particular they subscribe to a radical form of philosophical idealism, believing that reality is purely spiritual and the material world an illusion. This includes the view that disease is a spiritual rather than physical disorder, that there is no death, and that the sick should be treated, not by medicine, but by a form of prayer that seeks to correct the beliefs responsible for the illusion of ill health.[10]

[ShaMan]

My extended family is either Catholic or Christian Scientist.

(bold added by me)

Been there.

---

What is a Christian Scientist.

Christian Science is not the worst religion IMHO. Christian Scientists believe that Jesus was not the "Way" (Messiah) but rather the "Way Shower". They believe that all Humans can walk as Jesus did, heal themselves and each other without medical intervention, and basically attain oneness with God. Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of the sect, wrote a scripture companion titled "Science and Health, With Key to The Scriptures". In her commentary she goes on to explain some of the more esoteric teachings in the bible (including some that I agree with). I was exposed to the CS Church as a boy, and the one thing (ok two things) that stood out most to me were the idea of being able to heal with the mind, and how boring Sunday School was. I latched-on to the idea that I could attain a measure of power without having to relinquish my talents, dreams, and authority to a malevolent God. The God of Christian Science is basically an empower-er, and not a dictator. Still, I choose my own experiences to base my beliefs on, and not some spoon-fed regurgitation of someone else's ideas.

---

Oh, and to the OP

[Jenny A]

Welcome Aleighus,

I grew up in a Presbyterian/Lutheran home. My father had two years of seminary and occasionally gave sermons. My parents had weekend prayer groups until the wee hours of the morning. We kids played hid-and-go-seek and fell asleep in heaps. I have fond memories of the church and church people, but I never believed.

The hardest thing for me was coming out to family. No one disowned me or anything, but it's been forty years now and they're still not happy about it. Neither of the churches my family belonged to was hell fire and brimstone, but they do believe in hell, and the fate of my soul troubles them. Sometimes they forget I'm atheist and hope it's gone away. (Faith leads to denial I guess). My brother is also atheist which helps.

That their grandchildren are growing up atheist bothers my parents more. I've let all the Bible books in the house, even sent the kids to a carefully chosen Bible school for a few summers. But that's because to be really culturally literate in this country (U.S.A.) you should know something about the predominate religion and to read classic literature it helps to know the Bible. Both girls have played with the idea of Christianity and then decided not. That's healthy.

Good luck. Should you need a support group to substitute for the church, the Unitarian Universalists are a pretty good choice.

[The Valkyrie]

Welcome.

[Minimalist]

http://www.theness.com/index.php/the-chr...holocaust/

Christian Science Beliefs

The logic behind Ms. Eddy’s core teachings is a tragic example of where flawed logic based on false premises can lead. She began by assuming that God is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent – all knowing, all powerful and existing everywhere. This belief, widely held by Christians, Jews and Muslins alike, would not cause controversy in most religious circles today. What is controversial is her interpretation of this belief. Eddy reasoned that since God is good and God is everywhere, good must be everywhere, therefore evil could not be anywhere. If evil does not exist, sickness or disease could not exist either. Therefore, they must be illusions. Since evil exists only in the minds of humans it must be removed by right teaching and right thought, which the church teaches comes only from Christian Science. The purpose of Christian Science is not to cure disease, but rather to help deluded persons overcome the delusion that they are sick or dead. (In spite of Ms. Eddy’s denial of human mortality, she died on December 3, 1910).

Assholes.