Customer Reviews (12)

Don't trust the 'star' ratings
Just a reminder. Books that address any controversy attract attempts to pack the Reader Reviews with negative comments.

The quality of reviews here is very uneven. The Kirkus review, for example, refers to Phineas Quimby as Phineas Parkhurst. This is a dead giveaway that the reviewer has not actually read the book.

Gardner's accusations against Mrs Eddy are thoroughly researched and documented. Most of them have been made before and remain unchallenged except by evasion and denial. What is new and helpful in this book is the description and commentary on other aspects of the larger New Thought movement. Many who would never give credence to Eddy are strongly influenced by the same strain of thought.

I would strongly recommend this book to any reader, not just those interested in Christian Science.

Wonderful expose of an idiotic cult
A searing indictment of the crank named Mary Baker Eddy. Christian Science is neith Christian nor Science and Mr. Gardner tells it like it is. I am not suprised at the bad reviews given this book by Christian Scientists, after all what else can you expect from an goup of ignorant and superstitious people, many of whom would rather see their children die than give them antibiotics. Christian Science is an dying cult and it is clear that there will be violent death throes coming from its members.

"Ill informed negativity"
In order to understand CS one has to devote their life to the continually unfoldment that is a result of studying Mrs. Eddy's teaching's. It is not unusual for sometime to totally miss the essence of CS . But the fact remains it is a demonstrable science. Most Christians Scientists have demonstrated good health , happiness and prosperity throughout their long lives. This speaks volumes. "Scientist's simply follow the example and teachings of Christ Jesus. Mrs. Eddy , thankfully explained the teachings of Christ to a degree that had not been done before.
She laid no claim to inventing the truth but rather explaining it through what she called "Christian Science". Naturally after her passing the "truth began to get diluted and hence demonstations were less frequent. She was simply trying to wake everyone up to the fact that " The truth will set them free"
from the erroneous thinking of mankind. It's evident that every
forward thinking person throughout history has been persecuted by those of lesser vision. Why should she be an exception.
"Forgive them father they know not what they do".

Insightful
You won't find any spin from brainwashed followers in this book.The truth shall set you free.

Mrs. Eddy surely differed greatly from Quimby.
Gardner's claim of plagiarism of Quimby's writings by Mrs. Eddy simply doesn't hold water. Quimby did reach the point of recognizing to a meager extend the influence of the human mind on the body. So by necessity, some of Mrs. Eddy's writings might seem to parallel Quimby's writings regarding the human mind/body relationship. But that's as far as any seeming similarity can be found between the two. Here's excerpts about what Mrs. Eddy says about Quimby in her book, Miscellaneous Writings:

"Having practised homoeopathy, it never occurred to the author to learn his [Quimby's] practice, but she did ask him how manipulation could benefit the sick. He answered kindly and squarely, in substance, 'Because it conveys electricity to them.' That was the sum of what he taught her of his medical profession.

"The readers of my books cannot fail to see that metaphysical therapeutics, as in Christian Science, are farther removed from such thoughts than the nebulous system is from the earth.

"I never heard him say that matter was not as real as Mind, or that electricity was not as potential or remedial, or allude to God as the divine Principle of all healing. He certainly had advanced views of his own, but they commingled error with truth, and were not Science."

Throughout the latter years of her time here on earth, Mrs. Eddy was constantly being accused of plagiarizing the writings of Quimby. Many of her detractors claimed that he was the one who healed her of her many years of invalidism. The truth is that she seemed to derive temporary benefit from his treatments, but soon after, lapsed into an even worse physical state. Eventually she was completely healed through her own study of the Bible and her faith in a higher power, far transcending the electricity/magnetism techniques that Quimby employed. It's obvious that Gardner didn't study Mrs. Eddy's writings sufficiently to discern the vast gulf between her teachings, and those of Quimby. And as other reviewers have noted, he misstates many facts regarding the life of Mary Baker Eddy, which seriously compromises and undermines his arguments from the starting line to the finish line. Don't waste your money on this one. ... Read more

Book Description
"The most interesting woman that ever lived," wrote Mark Twain of his contemporary, Mary Baker Eddy. Bright, frail, the youngest of six children, Mary Baker Eddy grew up on a New Hampshire farm, forty years before the Civil War. In her family home, the Bible was bedrock, but it was not until her near-death experience that she discovered its underlying principle, that would lead her to heal, teach and found a worldwide religious movement -- Christian Science. How this woman emerged from illness, poverty and dependence to become a leading moral and spiritual force for good is an absorbing story, clearly told. Skillful line drawings, historical photographs and engravings pique the readers' interest, both young and adult. ... Read more

Book Description
"Willa Cather is indisputably the author of The Life of Mary Baker G. Eddy and the History of Christian Science. For readers and students today it presents an important profile of Cather's developing voice and a glimpse of subjects and styles that would be her special stock in trade. As the strange drama of Mrs. Eddy's life unfolds in the narrative we become aware of Willa Cather, the burgeoning novelist with a powerful and sympathetic interest in human psychology."--David StouckThis controversial biography of the founder of the Christian Science church was serialized in McClure's Magazine in 1907-8 and published as a book the next year. It disappeared almost overnight and has been difficult to find ever since. Although a Canadian mewspaperwoman named Georgine Milmine collected the material and was credited as the author, The Life Of Mary Baker G. Eddy was actually written by Willa Cather, an editor at McClure's at that time. In his introduction to this Bison Book edition, David Stouck reveals new evidence of Cather's authorship of The Life of Mary Baker G. Eddy. He discusses her fidelity to facts and her concern with psychology and philosophy that would take creative form later on. Indeed, this biography contains "some of the finest portrait sketches and reflections on human nature that Willa Cather would ever write." David Stouck is a professor of English at Simon Fraser University and the author of Willa Cather's Imagination. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Do more research.
December 2007 The Mary Baker Eddy Library has the real and whole story. I think that it must have been built to make everything available to everybody. Before you get lopsided on this book, better visit or call MBE Library for the Betterment of Humanity.
The real test of all this is to read her book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.When you feel the change that comes over your whole life you'll be in a better position to write a review. And, it doesn't matter if you are an atheist, a Mormon,catholic or anything in between.

I am not a Christian Scientist.....
but I would not hesitate to write a book about a church that condones the death of children and adults and causes untold emotional suffering and insanity. Period!

An Observation
It seems that all the reviews here show a bias that was held before this particular book was read. If one had a a prejudice agains Christian Science, they thought the book was wonderful. If one was in favor of Christian Science, they thought the book was terrible.

My feeling is, that at least in the US where we treasure religious freedon, to write a book that trashes another's belief is despicable. Everyone should be able to follow their beliefs without someone trashing them.

I am not Catholic, but I am not going to write a book denouncing the pope.

Dennis R.

Banned in Boston
In 1906 Georgine Milmine, a newspaperwoman who had spent years assembling an enormous collection of material about Mary Baker Eddy but doubted her own ability to write on the subject, sold it to McClures Magazine. Interest in Christian Science was at its height at the time, and McClure's turned the project over to Willa Cather, who was 32 years old and had 32 published short stories to her credit, but whose days as a great novelist still lay in the future.

Although Ms. Cather publicly disclaimed credit for the resulting series of articles which form the basis of this book, the editors provide convincing proof that she wrote it.

In addition to being a highly entertaining account of the rise of one of the more fascinating characters in American religious history and the church she founded, the book provides extensive factual detail to anyone seriously interested in the history of either. While it is critical of Mrs. Eddy, it is also complimentary. Factually accurate and extensively documented., it is perhaps the most objective account available of a truly remarkable woman and her church.

Although the book was the subject of favorable reviews when it was published in 1910, the response of the church was, predictably, less enthusiastic. According to the afterword, even before it was published, "three spokesmen for the Christian Science church visited the McClure's office and tried to suppress the series of articles. Christian Scientists were said to have later bought and destroyed most copies of the book, and library copies were said to be kept out of general circulation through constant borrowings by church members... The copyright for the Milmine book was purchased by a friend of Christian Science, the plates from which the book was printed were destroyed, and the manuscript also acquired. That this happened is supported by the fact that the manuscripts for the 'Milmine' book are held in the Archives and Library of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston." (pp. 497-498)

Perhaps the most important contribution that this book makes is to present Mrs. Eddy and her church in the context of their time. There is a tendency today to present her as an early oppressed feminist. That interpretation should be compared with Ms. Cather's hard-nosed assessment:: "The result of Mrs. Eddy's planning and training and pruning is that she has built up the largest and most powerful organization ever founded by any woman in America. Probably no other woman so handicapped-so limited in intellect, so uncertain in conduct, so tortured by hatred and hampered by petty animosities-has ever risen from a state of helplessness and dependence to a position of such power and authority... The growth of her power has been extensive as well as intensive." (p. 480)

In fact, the only complaint in an otherwise favorable review by a student of nervous disorders in the American Historical Review (Vol 15, July 1910), was that the author did "not do enough to explain the abnormal psychology of the founder of Christian Science-the record of hysteria, hypochondria, and the delusion of persecution." (p.498)

Well worth reading

Inaccurate information
More recent scolarship has shown this biography to be a polemic not a biography.See more scholarly work by Gillian Gill especially her comments on page 563 about Milmine's work. ... Read more

Book Description
1930. Prologue; A Challenge; A Rich Girlhood; Finding Herself; Building the Book; Founder; At Pleasant View; The Full Grain in the Ear; By Their Fruits; Twenty Years After; Notes. ... Read more

Book Description
Born in 1821, Mary Baker Eddy rose from unremarkable, indeed unfortunate, beginnings -- a sickly New Hampshire farm girl all too accustomed to the illness and death of loved ones -- to become, early in the twentieth century, a household name across America, and famous around the world. In this groundbreaking biography, Robert Thomas brilliantly employs his training in both history and psychoanalysis and, for a non -- Christian Scientist, his unprecedented access to Church archives to illuminate the psychological and social circumstances that led to Eddy's founding of a major religious movement.

Thomas begins by revealing in full the family tragedies that deeply affected, almost overwhelmed, the young girl, and shaped in her an awareness of the limited ability of traditional institutions to alleviate suffering. He casts new light on her conflicted relationships with her severely Calvinist father and her loving -- but demanding -- mother, on her inability to "mother" her own son, and on her involvement in such movements and fads of the period as spiritualism, homeopathy, the Graham diet, and water cures. He helps us understand the patterns in her life and how it came to be that a fall on ice when she was forty-five precipitated a life-changing religious experience that ultimately led to the establishment of the Church of Christ, Scientist.

Thomas helps us to know Mary Baker Eddy from within her own spiritual frame of reference, and also to see what made her message so persuasive to others. Through a close study of her early writings, he makes it unmistakably clear for the first time that she was a woman of strikingly original, searching, and probing mind -- not the plagiarist some have alleged her to be. He analyzes Eddy's explanation of the existence of evil in her theory of "malicious animal magnetism," and he discusses her ideas about the nature of spiritual prophecy, and the role of dreams and visions. Through the stories of Church members -- including many who knew her personally -- Thomas examines her relationships with her followers, and he shows us the complexities, inconsistencies, and ambiguities of her personality, as well as the richness and depth of her character.

Throughout this study, we are able to see Mary Baker Eddy in the context of her late-Victorian world, and we see the ways in which her life and movement reaffirmed America's most cherished Protestant middle-class values and myths while at the same time directly challenging and disturbing the conventional thought of her time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

An apology indeed
I was raised in Christian Science, but the historical Mrs. Eddy only became fascinating to me when I finally discovered that the glowing image portrayed in church literature was largely mythological.Her life story is particularly interesting now that the Christian Science Church is once again attempting to widen its appeal.
A friend recommended this book to me as exposing some of the Eddy mythology using heretofor "classified" material from church archives.What I found instead was a sometimes interesting attempt to analyse Mrs. Eddy's persona and life in psychological, but often apologetic terms.While he obviously wants to be seen as an impartial biographer, he often left me feeling that he wasn't telling the whole story.Indeed, what I found most troubling in his narrative were the many gaping holes, not only in terms of chronology, but of historical criticism.For example, we never really learn how Mrs. Eddy and her organization developed rapidly in the 1880's from a small group into a national organization, and how this related to a fundamental criticism of her character: that Christian Science evolved into a money-making enterprise that was frequently at odds with her purported metaphysical world-view. Thomas often leaves the reader unaware of some very controversial aspects of her career by making the situation seem innocuous.For example, her establishment of the "Massachusetts Metaphysical College", he says, was "to give her teachings a firmer structure and more respectability in the community" and "her graduates took away a diploma from a state-chartered school".He doesn't mention that this "charter" was under an ill-conceived state law that allowed virtually any diploma mill to exist, and that the school primarily existed to make money and create more demand, with her as the only faculty member.He glosses over the contributions of Rev. James Wiggin in virtually re-writing Science and Health by referring to his work as merely smoothing over "rough edges", and dismisses Wiggin's criticism of her educational and literary shortcomings by accusing him of of being a "lapsed Unitarian minister" who had "gender anxieties" in his capacity as a nineteenth century man in a woman's employ.Mrs. Eddy's at times paranoid obsession with "malicious animal magnetism" is rather benignly explained as due to her being "acutely sensitive to a form of interpersonal interaction that is largely unconscious..." and stemming from an "intricate web of relationships" going back to childhood.
I would still recommend this book as having valuable material, and as worth reading for some interesting insights into aspects of Mrs. Eddy's psychological make-up.However, any reader who stops here is likely to come away with a very incomplete and even fuzzy picture of the woman, her psychological motives, her many questionable claims, as well as the many vagaries of her early movement. I would therefore recommend that you get your hands on other, more critical histories, particularly Edwin Franden Dakin's "Mrs. Eddy, the Biography of a Virginal Mind" - out of print, but available.While Dakin's book has it's own shortcomings, including occasional use of a not well-documented "omniscient narration", the historical narrative and especially the motives for many of the more sensational events of Mrs. Eddy's life, are, overall, presented much more coherently.Thomas would have done well, if he had issues with this much more critical view of Mrs. Eddy, to refute in detail the charges made by Dakin and others, instead of, to a large extent, dismissing them.

Not a critique, but an apology.
This book is supposed to be a psychoanalytic study of Mary Baker Eddy. It is anything but that.

The authors appear to be non-Christian Scientists have looked into Christian Science and decided that it is the correct explanation of Jesus's works and teachings. Although this book offers some wonderful intellectual insights into Mrs. Eddy's life and career, it is far more praiseworthy than antagonistic.

Strongly recommended, whether or not you're a Christian Scientist.

Thomas is simply a genius
I am one of relatively few people who have had the enormous privelige of being taught by Robert Thomas - "Doc Thomas", as he was universally known.He is a man with an extraordinary and profound intellect, and an unparalleled ability to illuminate complex and intricate issues.If you desire an intellectual thrill, buy the book.Better still would be to take a class from him, an experience which in the course of nine months taught me how to think and write.He could sell tickets to his dissection of Dr. Strangelove.It was truly that fascinating.

Doc, if you read this, I want to say now that you are unequivocally the most brilliant, effective and entertaining teacher I have ever had the privelige of learning from.You have taught me more than any person ever has, and given to me the art of analysis.Thank you, thank you, thank you.My only regret is that you didn't stay one more year.I know dozens of us would have been lining up for Am Cult, myself included.

-David (no, not Big Hands who forgot his notes for the final)

disappointing
Thomas was given access to the church archives when researching this book, but then he was denied permission to quote from anything he read there.(At least according to a letter the author published later in response toan unfavorable review--Thomas ought to have clarified this issue in hispreface to the book.)

The result is a book full of broad claims restingprecariously on slender evidence.Thomas' overly vague descriptions ofarchival material cannot support his conclusions.

If you're interested inlearning more about Eddy (as opposed to learning more about what Thomas*thinks* about Eddy based on secret information), don't waste your money onthis book.

A MUST!READS BETTER THAN ANY NOVEL!
An excellent history of M.B.E.Well researched and extremely interesting to read.This book really tells the truth about M.B.E. and Christian Science. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Quick inspiration
When I need an uplifting thought I know I can turn to any page and find a quick inspiration for the moment.Very timely.

Save your money
Save your money and read "God's Word", The Holy Bible.

Very Inspiring!
This is an inspiring little book. I was given a copy and loved each section but one of the quotes in: "Relating to the World" really caught my eye.

The quote that begins "...unite in prayer for peace: For the end of hostility and war among or between all nations, and religious sects, -- for Divine Love to make us one human family,..." was really helpful to me as I was praying about my individual trust in military might and the need to find my own spiritual solution for ending conflict.

It's nice to see some of Mary Baker Eddy's previously unpublished writing out in the open.Very inspiring and well worth the cost! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Christian Science Board of Directors Defying By-Laws . . .
Christian Science Board of Directors defying Mrs. Eddy's By-Laws in takingand holding offices, for the closing of which she provided in her Church,are not legitimate - the position in Christian Science of Augusta E.Stetson, C.S.D., analyzed and explained by her students Franklin Ford andHickman Price.Originally broadcast in 1927 from Radio Station WHAP in NewYork City, this address is a spirited defense of "genuine Christian Scienceas promulgated by Mary Baker Eddy."All of Mrs. Stetson's writings revealdominion in her Christian life and Christian Science practice.Booklet;portraits; 30 pages; reprint of the 1927 edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Casting down imaginations
This book contains nothing but the ramblings of a mad man deifying his subject.... Poor Bliss, I think he missed the mark.

Knapp - a CSHeretic?, then so were her closest students!
The ignorance of the views on Mrs. Eddy by her own closest associates by the detractors of this book is astounding.Most of these detractor, though ignorant of the orgins of this view are of the so-called Chicago/KimballSchool. Kimball, while a fine lecturer, turned down Mrs. Eddy's request towork in her household and never understood Mrs. Eddy's relation to BiblicalProphecy. I have heard Knapp's views described as the "Knappheresy".If so, then let us call it the Laura Sargent, Calvin Frye,Irving Tomlinson, Victoria Sargent, Calvin Hill, Adam Dickey, MarthaWilcox, and about 50 others of her closest associates heresy) becausevirtually all of them shared this view of her. That this is ignoreddemonstrates the considerable comparative IGNORANCE of modern day ChristianScientists to the history of their own movement.If Knapp was wrong, sowere the CS Board of Directors, who issued the below 6 point statement inthe July 1943 CS Journal called Mrs. Eddy's Place after 3 years of researchin the church archives.The findings of the editors and former editorsparalleled Knapp's view.A change in the Board makeup with the passing ofseveral members who actually knew and worked for Mrs. Eddy brought thecurrent so-called orthodox Kimball based view. Between 1931 and 1999 onlyone non-Kimball line CS teacher has taught the CS Normal Class (1961)

TheBiblical Red Dragon does 2 things to hide Mrs. Eddy's Place,1. It hidesthe actual historical facts of the commonality of this view among herclosest associates, an undeniable historical fact to anyone willing toconsider the actual written evidence. 2.Failing that it resorts to thecommon practice of lumping all these views under the heading of"deification of personality"this practice, abhorrent even toBliss Knapp, when he is metaphysically understood, is concerned with herphysical personality. While the view of Mrs, Eddy as typifying the"Woman of Prophecy" is concerned with her spiritualindividuality.This reviewer was originally on the side condemning thebook but was forced to 180 degree alter his view after 2 years of research.He will happily provide considerable documentary evidence to any inquirer. Here's an example, When Victoria Sargent CSD came to Boston during theso-called Next Friend's suite in 1907 and had a conference with Mrs. Eddy,it is recorded a biograpical sketch by her V's CS association thefollowing, "Recognizing the high quality of her (Victoria's) mentalwork, Mrs. Eddy called Mrs. Sargent to Concord, (NH) in 1907, to helphandle the error arising from the lawsuit known as the "NextFriends" lawsuit.Mrs. Sargent went to Concord and remained severalweeks. She was able to go to Pleasant View a number of times, where shevisited her sister, Laura, and with Mrs. Eddy.On one of these visits Mrs.Sargent addressed her Leader thus, "My students recognize you to beGod's witness and mouthpiece.They are convinced that God is guiding youin this work which you are carrying on for the cause of Christian Science. They feel that you fufill the prophecies of the Scriptures -- that yourepresent the God-crowned woman mentioned in the Apocalypse." SourceBiographical sketch by a committee elected from Victoria Sargent's StudentsAssociation, October 1951

Note that there is a difference between sayingthat Mrs. Eddy "represents" or "typifies" the Woman ofProphecy and and that she "IS" the woman.No mortal finitephysical personality could BE the Woman.

The July 1943 Statement by theCS Board follows: Author: The Christian Science Board of Directors Source:The Christian Science Journal, July 1943 Page #: 412 MRS. EDDY'S PLACE Theposition of The Mother Church as to Mary Baker Eddy's place in thefulfillment of Bible prophecy is clearly set forth in the followingparagraphs. These conclusions are not new; they are confirmed by ourLeader's writings, and the steadily unfolding fruitage of Christian Sciencebears witness to their truth. 1. Mrs. Eddy, as the Discoverer and Founderof Christian Science, understood herself to be the one chosen of God tobring the promised Comforter to the world, and, therefore, the revelator ofChrist, Truth, in this age. 2. Mrs. Eddy regarded portions of Revelation(that is, Chapter 12) as pointing to her as the one who fulfilled prophecyby giving the full and final revelation of Truth; her work thus beingcomplementary to that of Christ Jesus. 3. As Christ Jesus exemplified thefatherhood of God, she (Mrs. Eddy) revealed God's motherhood; sherepresented in this age the spiritual idea of God typified by the woman inthe Apocalypse. 4. Mrs. Eddy considered herself to be the"God-appointed" and "God-anointed" messenger to thisage, the woman chosen by God to discover the Science of Christian healingand to interpret it to mankind; she is so closely related to Christi-anScience that a true sense of her is essential to the understanding ofChristian Science; in other words, the revelator cannot be separated fromthe revelation. 5. This recognition of her true status enabled her towithstand the opposition directed against her by "the dragon"(malicious animal magnetism); she was touchingly grateful to those who sawher as the woman of prophecy and who therefore trusted, obeyed, andsupported her in her mission. 6. This same recognition is equally vital toour movement, for demonstration is the result of vision; the collecting ofthis indisputable evidence of our Leader's own view of herself and of hermission marks a great step forward; wisely utilized, this evidence willstimulate and stabilize the growth of Christian Scientists today and insucceeding generations; it will establish unity in the Field with regard tothe vital question of our Leader's relation to Scriptural prophecy. As werecord these important facts, we remind Christian Scientists of ourLeader's words (Mis. 308), "The Scriptures and Christian Sciencereveal 'the way,' and personal revelators will take their proper place inhistory, but will not be deified.,' --- The Christian Science Board ofDirectors

Am I the second Christ?
"Am I the second Christ? Even the question shocks me" - Mary Baker Eddy in her book First Church of Christ, Scientist and Miscellany."Follow your leader only so far as she follows Christ" (ibid). This book presents a muddled picture that disregards her own writings onthe subject - which include, according to the computer concordance to herwritings, 988 references to Jesus.And none of them in any way equatingher to the Savior.Knapp knew her somewhat personally.He also had littlebalanced knowledge of her writings and teachings.

Another Controversy..Eddy is the Christ
Not a very exciting biography, however there are a few issues discussed in the book like how Eddy was equal to Jesus.Actually a true Christian Scientist rarely hears the name Jesus. Instead the Christ 'Truth' is taught. Eddy certainly usurps the place of Jesus.The controversy over the publishing of this book actually arose because 90 million dollars was at stake.The book isn't very interesting or enlightening.If you want an excellent biography on Eddy and Christian Science that reads better than any fiction it is Dakin's title Mrs. Eddy-Biography of a Virginal Mind. (Also Bate and Dittemore's-The Truth and The Tradition. This was written by a member of the Board of Directors that had access to unpublished,"secret", writings of Eddy.) Both autobiograpies take a while to locate.They are invaluable and should be read by all Christian Scientists and those who want the truth of the movement and history of the Christian Science Movement.

Don't be fooled...
Don't be fooled, folks. This is incorrect literature of Christian Science. The only reason it may now be considered "authorized" is because the Board of Directors at the Mother Church has taken the money given to them in exchange for publishing this book -- showing their concern for money and not the true Teaching. Mrs. Eddy was NOT the woman in the Apocalypse as Bliss Knapp states. If you want to know the truth, read Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. She's the only Leader the Christian Science movement has ever had. Bliss Knapp wrote a book based on "opinion" -- not on truth. "Be ye therefore wise as serpents." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Behind the Scenes With the Metaphysicians
A prior knowledge of Christian Science would be most helpful before reading this book.
I found the book very interesting because it introduced a new perspective to understanding the priciples of metaphysics.

Just great - sprititual, funny and many insights
A funny, skeptical and at the same time highly spiritual book. Corey, an independent Christian Scientist, who taught many of the luminaries of his time, eg in Hollywood, at his best: missing no chance to make a good joke, and at the same leading the reader deeper and deeper into metaphysics. I had laugh and smile a lot when I read this book; at the same time, I was touched by Corey's deep understanding of metaphysics.
Highly recommended! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Vital Issues in Christian Science
A record of unsettled questions which arose in the year 1909 between theDirectors of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist,Boston, Massachusetts, and First Church of Christ, Scientist, New YorkCity, eight of its nine Trustees and sixteen of its Practitioners.Thisimportant work records Augusta Stetson's spiritual defense of genuineChristian Science against the material concept of Mary Baker Eddy'steaching held by the Christian Science Board of Directors.Mrs. Stetsonalso explains the Directors' mistake in attempting to assume theprerogative of the forever Leader of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy,who spiritually guides those members of her church who have risen to aresponsiveness to her constant and continuous spiritual leadership. Contains facsimiles of excerpts and letters from Mary Baker Eddy to AugustaStetson.Brown cloth; 405 pages; reprint of the 1917 edition. ... Read more