Interviews

Last July, the Journal included excerpts from interviews with several Christian Science practitioners (pages 17-21). We asked them, how they had come to devote their lives to helping others through prayer.

If a marriage "isn't working," the general view might be to separate and call it quits—especially if the decision to marry hadn't seemed very inspired to begin with. But that wasn't the choice of one young wife, who concluded that Christian Science had shown her she had more than a personal, limited love to express.

Interviewer: You recently addressed a conference on the future of mainline churches. What do these mainline churches have to do to attract members? Nordbeck: Be churches, that's what they have to do.

In a talk you gave last fall, you referred to Christ Jesus' parable of the good Samaritan as a parable for good business conduct. Some people might say that's too idealistic, that it's just plain bad business practice to try to be a good Samaritan and a businessman at the same time.

The following interview describes the healing of a man involved in a serious accident at work. Three weeks after the accident, a newspaper article about his survival and recovery included his explanation: "I attribute it to God's help.

In a "global village," as the earth has been called, love for neighbors and prayer take on a greater urgency. News about far-off places is no longer far-off.

How does scientific Christianity relate to art ? Four artists who are Christian Scientists—a pianist, a potter, an etcher/painter, a violinist—recently spoke with the Journal about their work as it relates to the study of Christian Science. Their interviews are filled with the language of art—line, harmony, form, rhythm, inspiration, balance, practice, performing.

I've been so tremendously blessed by the teachings of Christian Science that I would love to share this blessing with others. But today there seem to be so many people with strong religious beliefs that sometimes I find myself tempted to believe it would be "wiser and safer" to avoid telling people about Christian Science.

"The author's medical researches and experiments had prepared her thought for the metaphysics of Christian Science. Every material dependence had failed her in her search for truth; and she can now understand why, and can see the means by which mortals are divinely driven to a spiritual source for health and happiness.

Mark Ruble has a substantial commitment to church. He is currently Christian Science Campus Counselor to a number of colleges, First Reader in his local branch church, a Monitor advertising salesman, and a worker in the Committee on Christian Science Work in Los Angeles County Institutions.