What will the public visiting the newly opened Bible Exhibit at the Christian Science Center see? One answer is that they will see whatever spirituality they are prepared to see. A key intent is to let the spirituality of the Bible—its message of light from God—speak for itself. A number of verses, spread through the displays and audio-visuals, are there to be read as if the viewer had actually opened the pages of the Bible. The theme is: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."Ps. 119:105.
Many Christian Scientists will remember reading this quotation from Mrs. Eddy: "It has always been my desire and expectation that my book [Science and Health] should encourage more and more people to read the Bible."William Dana Orcutt, Mary Baker Eddy and Her Books (Boston: The Christian Science Publishing Society, 1950), p. 27. A Protestant, a Catholic, a Jew, a Muslim, perhaps even an agnostic or an atheist, may find in the materials a shaft of divine light never seen before, or one never seen so deeply. The Bible Exhibit, then, is designed at one level to share directly the Word of the Bible with visitors of every denomination and with those who may feel they have no religious commitment.
At another level, visitors are shown that Christian Scientists know and love the Bible. They will see Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mrs. Eddy displayed with a 1611 edition of the King James Version of the Bible. This particular display has a card explaining the Bible Lesson, from the Christian Science Quarterly, and the role of the Bible and Science and Health as dual pastor of the Church of Christ, Scientist. Other displays—in the second-floor theater—present Mrs. Eddy's view of the Bible and early accounts of Christian Science healing that involved a deepened appreciation for the Bible. And there is a study area on the first floor where the Bible Lesson can be studied.
