What Would Make Me Go Back?

I’ve sometimes wondered what might ever make me go back to Christian Science, if I ever would go back, and what it might be like if I did. Some in the ex-Christian Scientist groups fear that when they grow older and potentially slip into dementia, they might inadvertently revert back to Christian Science in the mental fog of dementia, and I honestly think that’s probably the only way I can see it that I would go back at this point, since the only other thing that would send me back is unlikely to ever happen. And…that brings me to the topic of this post. 

To Vax or Not to Vax

The debate over vaccination has been heating up especially south of the border (in the USA) lately due to a measles outbreak centred around Disneyland. It’s a debate that’s also been lighting up a few discussion threads in one of the ex-Christian Scientist Facebook groups. The anti-vaxxers are taking it hard on the chin on this one, and in my opinion, well they should.

No True Christian Scientist

Image credit: Imgarcade (www.imgarcade.com).

This is another in an occasional series of posts dealing with contradictions within the practice and/or culture of Christian Science. For other posts, check out the topic ‘Contradictions‘.

Among my ex-Christian Scientist friends, I’ve seen discussion of the “No True Scotsman” informal fallacy as it relates to Christian Science, Christian Scientists, and of interest to me–ex-Christian Scientists. This discussion also applies to former Christians (of any other Christian denomination) as well, and you can read an excellent discussion of that here.

Just Because You Can, Should You?

Morality can be a shifting line, and there are definitely some gray areas. For some, living in a sexual relationship outside of marriage is absolutely immoral, for many others, it’s not. It’s not illegal to have sex outside of marriage, or for couples in relationships to live together outside of marriage, but just because it’s not illegal, is it right to do this? Many will argue that it’s not ok. I don’t care either way. But, I have a different issue in mind here outside of sexual morality (a very weird subject in connection to Christian Science, by the way). My issue relates to the raising and protecting of children.

Former Christian Scientists In Their Own Words

An interesting discussion thread emerged in one of the ex-Christian Scientist Facebook groups. A friend thought it might be fun to share some of that discussion with a wider audience, and I agree. I now share with you, dear readers, former Christian Scientists in their own words, unplugged, and uncensored.

Ignoring the gorilla in the room

Recently, this news story came across my Facebook newsfeed courtesy of one of the ex-Christian Scientist groups I’m in. I ask that you give it a read before continuing with this post. Go ahead…I’ll wait.

There–finished the article? Great! What did you think? Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments, via e-mail–or if you’re up to it, go ahead and write a guest post. I’ll take a few moments now to share some of my thoughts, since this is my blog, after all.

Ignorance Isn’t Bliss

“–where ignorance is bliss,
‘Tis folly to be wise.”
~Thomas Gray (from “Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College“)

This well-known quote came to mind for me as I read this latest installment in “Que?tion of the Week” on The Mother Church’s youth-oriented website time4thinkers. A regular feature on this website, Que?tion of the Week addresses questions that I believe are submitted by visitors to the site regarding Christian Science, its theology, practice, and culture.

Stages of Departure

Many have heard about the Kübler-Ross model of the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. I’ve also written about this a bit in relation to my own experience with grief in a previous post. In this post, I want to apply this model in parallel way to look at my evolving feelings about Christian Science as I began to leave it initially starting around five years ago to now, as I leave it further and further behind and become more detached from it. I’ve found that many of my ex-Christian Scientist peers that I’m in touch with via Facebook seem to go through similar evolving stages of “leaving” as well. This became starkly apparent to me during a recent visit with an old college friend of mine who like me, grew up in Christian Science (3rd generation as well), but left Christian Science several years before I did, shortly after we graduated from college.

Metal and Christian Science

My musical taste is very eclectic. I enjoy almost anything from a symphony by Mozart or Beethoven to the guitar riffs of AC/DC, Judas Priest, Def Leppard, or Van Halen. About the only kinds of music I don’t care much for are country, folk, rap, and hip hop. Music has tremendous power to change one’s mood, or take you back to a specific place and time. It can evoke deep emotions, and make you forget the worries of your day. A nice guitar riff can lift my mood instantly.

Nihilism and Christian Science

A reader recently commented on a post, and in his comment made reference to Christian Science as a form of nihilism. This is a term I and I’m sure most of my readers have heard before, but have never necessarily connected it to Christian Science. I’ve always thought I had a pretty good grasp on what nihilism is, however I figured just for kicks, I’d look it up on-line. It turns out there is more to it than I thought, especially as it relates to Christian Science.