Folks interested in learning about Christian Science are invited to attend an interfaith dialog meeting on Sunday, Oct. 11.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and take place at the First Church of Christ, Scientist, located at 71 S. Washington St. in downtown Oxford.
‘We’re trying to get the word out,? said church member Sandy Rosemann, an Oxford resident who started practicing the faith in the 1990s after being born and raised a Catholic.
The meeting is part of a series organized through the MIthumb Interfaith Council, the mission of which is to ‘promote dialog with, and improve understanding of, the faith and worship practices of men and women belonging to congregations who believe in God.?
The goal of these interfaith dialog meetings is to encourage people, both religious and non-religious, to ‘see that the different faiths are far more similar than they are different.?
‘We just want to reach out to (people) and tell the community that we love them,? Rosemann said. ‘We just want them to be healed and be happy.?
With so many myths and misconceptions surrounding Christian Science, Rosemann hopes people will avail themselves of this opportunity to learn the facts behind the faith such as its history, core beliefs, Biblical interpretation and what makes it unique.
‘So many people think that we’re (connected with) Scientology and that we’re not Christian,? Rosemann said.
That’s not the case.
Christian Science bears no resemblance whatsoever to Scientology and has absolutely no relationship or connection with the religion founded by a science fiction writer and popularized by Hollywood celebrities.
Christian Science is a system of prayer-based healing.
Instead of relying on conventional medicine to heal illness and disease, its practitioners believe people can be cured through prayer and faith in God.
‘God does the healing,? Rosemann said. ‘You can be healed. There’s hope. There’s love. All that stuff is there for you.?
Christian Science takes a spiritual approach to healing as opposed to a physical one.
‘Once you get a spiritual healing, the body just conforms,? Rosemann said. ‘Once you realize your spiritual nature and your oneness with God, then the body just has no choice.?
Rosemann was quick to clarify that Christian Science isn’t simply ‘positive thinking? or ‘mind over matter.?
‘It’s deeper than that,? she said. ‘It’s accepting your spiritual nature.?
The primary source for learning Christian Science is the textbook ‘Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures? written by Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910) and published in 1875.
Eddy is the discoverer and founder of Christian Science. She also founded the First Church of Christ, Scientist and The Christian Science Monitor newspaper.
‘In our reading room, we have volumes and volumes and volumes of testimonials from people who have been healed just by reading ‘Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,?? Rosemann said.
Christian Science was first brought to Oxford in 1887 by Mary Burdick.
As local interest grew, a Christian Science Society was formed in May 1901.
This led to the organization and incorporation of the First Church of Christ, Scientist of Oxford in June 1903.
Construction of the church building on S. Washington St. commenced in May 1931 and was completed in August 1932.
Rosemann sincerely hopes other Oxford churches will participate in the interfaith dialog series to help foster greater understanding and unity amongst themselves.
Churches interested in hosting a meeting are asked to send an e-mail to the MIthumb Interfaith Council at TEBandMJB@gmail.com