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Some items from the media:-
Christian Herald, United Kingdom, 5th October 2002
'Cult' pain: 'tip of the iceberg'
Mother's traumatic death prompts new ministry to ex-Christian Science adherents
Report by ROB JAMES
A NEW internet support facility could prompt scores of disillusioned people to abandon their links with Christian Science, according to Doug Harris, Director of Reachout Trust, the Christian ministry to the cults, the occult and the New Age.
"There really is a need for an active support ministry that makes itself known to Christian Scientists," he explained. "I think we will find people coming out of the woodwork wanting that support. At the moment they don't know where to turn. This new resource will fill that gap."
Harris was commenting on the launch of ex_cs2001@yahoo.com, the e-mail link to the developing UK branch of Christian Way Ministry based in the USA (cway@christianway.org).
Kathy... set about organising a UK branch of Christian Way following the traumatic death of her mother earlier this year. "She died in a nursing home," explained Kathy. "She bravely and silently endured much suffering due to her radical reliance on Christian Science. She refused medical assistance for cancer because of her strong beliefs and died 18 months ago (sic) after being diagnosed with breast cancer. She had no pain relief and no surgery.
"A devotee of Christian Science for nearly 50 years, she firmly believed her faith would heal her. She even returned surgical dressings because she felt unable to use them. Suffice it to say that my mother watched part of her anatomy disintegrate and would not discuss it, because she believed she could heal herself by correcting her thoughts. Ideas about infections never entered her head. Anyone who dared to point out these practicalities was accused of interfering with her healing because talking about material things would give them a reality they should not have."
Following her mother's death Kathy was contacted by the press, and the subsequent coverage - with the predicted Christian Science reaction - prompted her current response.
"The events of the last 18 months have taken their toll on my health, and the health of my family," she continued. "Thankfully, we have many people's prayers to support us. I am trying to use the situation to positive advantage by setting up a support group for those who have been similarly affected, or who have relations still in Christian Science. To this end there is now a website http://ex-christian-science.8m.com, which is the UK link with the Christian Way group in the USA. People die in this cult with untreated growths, cancers, diabetes etc. You can imagine the heartache in watching this, whether Christian or non-Christian, from the outside and knowing that you are powerless to call for a doctor to relieve pain or effect a cure."
Brought up within Christian Science, Kathy understands only too well how difficult it is to break free of its influence and teaching. "I became a Christian nearly 30 years ago," she explained, "and I always longed to meet and share with other Christians who had endured a similar background. I had many problems - particularly understanding Christian doctrine, with relationships (because I had been very isolated within this cult), with depression, loneliness and knowing when it was appropriate to seek medical aid.
"We long to reach those who need to feel that people do understand what it was like to be in such a cult, to show that we can sympathise with the loneliness, perhaps experienced as a child, suffering from excruciating earaches, coughs and so on, with no sympathy, no antibiotics, and above all for them to feel the practical reality of Christian support."
A meeting in August only served to confirm these feelings. "Nine people came together," she explained. "Several could not make it due to poor health - attributable to medical neglect when they were in CS. Some are too ill to travel - all the more reason for contact and support. Most of them had a horrendous story of suffering which they had endured silently, because, in the words of one lady, there was never anyone to talk to who would really understand.
"Several of us had witnessed the premature death of loved ones who clung to the brainwashing of CS. Sometimes this had resulted in the break-up of families and the continuance of difficulties in relating to people. I know this is the tip of the iceberg and maintaining contact is emerging as important. I am also in contact with several in the USA enduring similar ordeals with dying relatives. The stress is appalling."
Christian Science claims to have 115 congregations within the UK, just over 2,000 world-wide in 79 countries, and according to Tony Lobl of the CS Committee on Publications, CS is benefiting from "a rapidly growing interest in spirituality and an accelerating interest in healing through prayer". This interest comes not only from the general public but also from the medical profession and other Christian churches.
"We are consequently experiencing a growing interest in the ideas in Science and Health. The book is selling more copies than ever in its history - over 200,000 copies a year".
And stressing that every individual is free to choose their response to illness without censure, he continued: "If someone discovered a lump in their breast for example we would advise them to pray to God for guidance to know what is the best thing to do deal (sic) with the problem effectively. If they choose to rely on God for healing then there are encouraging records of cure through prayer in the CS magazines. Christian Scientists are consistently law-abiding, however, and in obedience to the law, parents will quickly seek medical attention for their children in any instance where other parents would do so".
And as for question of pain relief: "Individual Christian Scientists are always free to choose medication for pain relief for any situation. Neither the church nor the teachings dictate such choices for the individual."
But Doug Harris is not convinced. "There is a real need for this new ministry," he continued. "Whether people come out in ones or as a group they are always in need of great support. They have to learn to put their lives back together and they need advice about very practical things - such as doctors and health. They need to learn to see such issues in totally different ways. An active support ministry that makes itself widely know (sic) is really needed." ...
Bournemouth Echo, United Kingdom, 25th June 2002
"Mum Suffered for Her Faith"
A Grandmother suffered years of agonizing ill health because of her devotion to a cult religion, her family claims.
By Jane Reader
Determined L---- M----- B------- refused medical assistance for cancer because of her strong beliefs in Christian Science.
The 77-year-old died two weeks ago, 18 months after being diagnosed with breast cancer. She had no pain relief and no surgery.
Now her devastated family has spoken out to inform the public about Christian Science beliefs.
The movement, formed in America in the late 1800s, has churches in Bournemouth and Poole.
Mrs. B------- had studied Christian Science for nearly 50 years and firmly believed her studies could heal her.
The movement claims medicine is incompatible with Christian Science. She even returned surgical dressings because she felt unable to use them.
Christian Science, also known as the First Church of Christ, Scientist, was formed by Mary Baker Eddy who taught that evil, including sickness and death, was an illusion to be overcome by understanding your true identity as a perfect, spiritual reflection of God.
Mrs. B-------'s daughter, Kathy, said it was impossible to influence her mother's views.
Kathy... said her mother's cancer was discovered when she was taken into hospital after two falls at her home in Southbourne. Despite the presence of the disease, she refused all help and insisted on going home.
Mrs. B------- was admitted to hospital and died in a nursing home, unaware of her surroundings and unable to recognize members of her family.
At her own request, there was no funeral or remembrance service, just a private cremation.
Kathy, who also lives in Bournemouth, has set up a support group, thought to be the first in Britain, for those who have left Christian Science.
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Bournemouth Echo, United Kingdom, 25th June 2002
Christian Science "not to blame" for L----'s suffering
Christian Science was not to blame for any of Mrs. B-------'s suffering says the church's Dorset spokesman.
By Jane Reader
Michael A'Court has described his "enormous compassion" for her family adding: "It's a very sad situation."
He said pain relief and surgical dressings would not have gone against Christian Science beliefs. But he admitted they might have been frowned on by some church members.
Mr. A'Court said the church would not have stopped praying for Mrs. B------- if she had sought medical help.
However, he confirmed that any attempt at medical cure, such as surgery or chemotherapy, would not be compatible with Christian Science.
"If Mrs. B------- felt she could not have any medical help, it was her own thought and her own interpretation.
"There would have been no criticism from the church. It is a popular misconception that the church throws people out for having medical help.
"It would have been more compassionate for her to agree to the wishes of her family."
He said he believes pain relief is acceptable if the person feels there is no option.
"If you can't handle the thing, then pain relief is not a problem."
Mr. A'Court added: "I think she was too hard on herself. She should have been more compassionate to herself."
He said he firmly believes that "our experience is the result of our own thinking.
"There was clearly something in her thought that needed to be healed."
He said that continuing negative thoughts such as resentment or anger are believed to lead to physical problems.
But he stopped short of saying the illness was her own fault.
Mr. A'Court said he firmly believes that Christian Science heals in "almost all" cases.
"There is a growing acceptance of the power to heal. It's a lot cheaper than going to the doctor and there are no waiting lists."
Mr. A'Court, who lives in Poole, admitted that Christian Scientists attract controversy and often "speak in a funny language that other people don't understand".
"For example, we say: 'There is no such thing as death', which is a difficult thing for other people to understand.
"What we mean is that there is a continuity of consciousness."
He said there are thousands of examples of healing within the church.
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