Questions sometimes arise about the basis of clear, correct teaching in Christian Science. Some students wonder if anything more than the Bible or the writings of Mary Baker Eddy is needed. Turning to the Manual of The Mother Church, we find that there can be only one answer when it comes to learning the theology of Christian Science and its practice of healing. Mrs. Eddy states exactly which books are to be used "for self instruction in Christian Science" (see Church Manual, Art. IV, Sect. 1). She states that the chapter "Recapitulation" in her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures is the only basis for Primary class instruction (Man., Art. XXVII, Sect. 3). Members of a teacher's association "shall be guided by the Bible, and Science and Health, not by their teachers' personal views" (see Man., Art. XXVI, Sect. 6). The Manual further states that "Recapitulation" and the Christian Science Platform are the only texts for Normal class instruction (see Man., Art. XXVII, Sect. 3).
Teachers of Sunday School are given the following rule for their classes: "The instruction given by the children's teachers must not deviate from the absolute Christian Science contained in their textbook" (Man., Art. XX, Sect. 3). The full range of spiritual education is safeguarded by the Manual of The Mother Church, because the Bible and the writings of Mrs. Eddy are the only textbooks that are ever to be used for instruction in Christian Science.
