Lindsay Pope, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Massachusetts, US—The turning point for our CSO came when we sponsored an informal lecture on women and spirituality . . . . The talk centered on the role of women within the spirituality movement, with a focus on Mary Baker Eddy. It referenced foundational spiritual truths that lead to simply living a more fulfilling life. This was the event that really dismissed any preconceived notions I had about what a CSO should be. People of all faiths came. A few friends from my Buddhist ethics class attended, including one who identifies herself as Pagan Wiccan. Yet all religious labels seemed to vanish as we sat there, united by a common understanding that, whatever one calls it, there is a divine, inexhaustible Source that is all there is. And, I thought, isn't that, after all, the very basis of Christian Science?
. . . because of the amazing response, just a couple of weeks later our speaker returned for a follow-up discussion on women and spirituality, this time with a focus on relationships and body image. The receptivity was just as strong. One of the women who attended later remarked that she had tried all kinds of meditation and yoga, but that she'd never felt such a spiritual, uplifting feeling as she had during the talk. Another woman said she loved the idea that God could be her Mother, as well as her Father. She's already read through Science and Health.
As a result of these talks, our CSO became truly active. It now embraces people of many faiths. Everyone I've met through my involvement with his organization has said they feel they now have a better understanding of how to heal, which has strengthened their faith. And in turn, their new understanding has strengthened my own . . . .
