I sometimes hear people talk about Christian Science nurses who care for a wide range of physical needs. But Christian Science treatment through prayer is purely spiritual. It seems somewhat contradictory to admit that there's a physical need to be met while you're trying to heal on a purely spiritual basis. If a Christian Science practitioner is already giving specific treatment, why would someone also call a Christian Science nurse?
A1 It is true that the practitioner prays from the basis that God, or Spirit, is all. However, at our present stage of understanding, humanity has only a limited concept of Spirit's allness, we still need to physically care for the body, and to do so in a gentle and humane way.
The kind of care a Christian Science nurse offers is intended to help the individual carry out normal daily activities without conflicting with the individual's desire to rely on prayer for healing. A Christian Science nurse does not administer drugs or have any specialized medical knowledge, but has the practical skills to care for basic needs, such as dressing a wound, assisting someone in bathing, or showing one how to use a walking aid.
