Headlines about prosecutions of Christian Scientist parents. Newspaper columnists weighing issues of religious freedom and parental responsibility raised by these cases. Stories confusing Christian Science with faith healing. Television and radio discussion forums questioning laws that recognize spiritual healing for children.
Seldom since the early days of the century has such widespread media attention focused on Christian Scientists and their spiritual healing practice. Much of this coverage has been misleading. Yet Mary Baker Eddy's explanation of her patience with attacks by critics in an earlier period is pertinent. Such attacks, she wrote, "afford opportunity for explaining Christian Science...." The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 151.
Current media spotlighting of Christian Science is doing just this. It has brought spiritual healing to people's attention in a way that has aroused considerable interest in the overall healing effectiveness of Christian Science, affording significant opportunities to explain what Science is and is not. But what concerns Christian Scientists most profoundly at this hour is not the healings that have occurred but how to strengthen their healing work. And this means deepening the spirituality that empowers it.
