Spiritual and metaphysical reading of the Bible

What it is: Bible reading in Christian Science privileges spiritual, universal, and therapeutic meanings.

How the tradition understands it: The sacred text reveals spiritual laws about God, human being, healing, and salvation, more than just historical accounts or literal prescriptions.

Basis and context: This hermeneutic is reinforced by Science and Health and by the Bible lesson system of the church.

Debates and variations: Critics frequently question its distancing from more traditional historical-grammatical readings.

Supportive

Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lessons

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Weekly Bible lessons structure study and worship of the tradition.

Reference: Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lessons.
Content: Brings together biblical passages and excerpts from Science and Health for weekly devotional and liturgical study.
Use in debate: Central for worship life and community hermeneutics.

Mary Baker Eddy, No and Yes

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Text used to clarify doctrinal controversies and language of the tradition.

Reference: Mary Baker Eddy, No and Yes.
Content: Addresses doctrinal and polemic themes linked to the identity of Christian Science.
Use in debate: Useful to clarify more contested formulations of the movement.

Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures

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Mary Baker Eddy's central work for doctrine and hermeneutics of the tradition.

Reference: Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.
Content: The book develops the religious metaphysics of the tradition and its spiritual reading of the Bible, prayer, and healing.
Use in debate: The main doctrinal source after the Bible.