Mary Baker Eddy

Mary Baker Eddy (July 16, 1821 – December 3, 1910) was an influential American author, teacher, and religious leader, best known for founding Christian Science, a new religious movement, in the late 19th century. Her most notable work, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, first published in 1875, is the central text of the Christian Science faith. Eddy's ideas challenged conventional religious and scientific thought of her time, advocating for the healing power of faith and the mind's ability to affect the body.

Early Life

Mary Baker Eddy was born Mary Morse Baker in Bow, New Hampshire, to Mark Baker and Abigail Ambrose Baker. Her early life was marked by illness and a deep interest in the Bible, which would influence her later teachings and writings. Despite limited formal education, Eddy was an avid reader, educating herself on a wide range of subjects.

Development of Christian Science

The foundation of Christian Science was laid following a significant personal incident in 1866, when Eddy experienced a severe injury after a fall. She claimed to have been healed by reading a passage from the Bible, which led her to the insight that healing could be achieved through spiritual understanding and the power of Christ. This experience prompted Eddy to further explore and eventually articulate the principles of Christian Science.

In 1875, Eddy published Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, which outlined the theology and healing practices of Christian Science. The book went through several editions in her lifetime and remains a central text for the movement.

Church of Christ, Scientist

In 1879, Eddy founded the Church of Christ, Scientist, with the aim of reinstating "primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing." The church's headquarters were established in Boston, Massachusetts, which also houses The Mother Church, completed in 1894. Eddy played a significant role in the establishment of the church's structure, including the Sunday School system and the Christian Science Reading Rooms.

Later Life and Legacy

Eddy faced considerable opposition and controversy, including challenges to her leadership within the church and criticism from the medical community and mainstream Christianity. Despite this, she continued to write, teach, and guide the Christian Science movement until her death in 1910.

Eddy's legacy is marked by her contributions to religious thought and the establishment of a movement that continues to have followers worldwide. Her work has been both praised for its innovative approach to spirituality and healing and criticized for its views on medicine.

Selected Works

• Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (1875)
• Miscellaneous Writings (1897)
• The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany (1910)

See Also

• Christian Science
• The First Church of Christ, Scientist
• Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures