At The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, the Office of the Publisher’s Agent for Mary Baker Eddy’s Writings regularly receives inquiries and suggestions related to translations of this author’s books. Also received are inquiries about various non-English translations of the Bible. As this is an international church with the Holy Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy as its “dual and impersonal pastor” (Mary Baker Eddy, Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, p. 322), what follows is an exploration of the relationship between these two books, in many languages, and their role in this global church and movement—written by the Translations Manager in the Office of the Publisher’s Agent.
Gathering to pray together on a Sunday morning in parts of New Zealand, locals in Christian Science branch churches and societies do what many around the world do every week. Members and visitors pray with and for the congregation, sing hymns, and hear the Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson read aloud as a sermon from two books: the Bible and Science and Health.