Mary Baker Eddy 1821-1910
Mary Baker Eddy was the youngest of six children raised on a farm in New Hampshire. Because of numerous periods of sickness, she was given little formal education but she read and studied a great deal at home, writing prose and poetry from an early age. Raised in a deeply religious Congregational home, she rebelled against the Calvinist doctrine of predestination at an early age, and regularly turned to the Bible and prayer for hope and inspiration.
Struggling with chronic illness, she sought help from Phineas Quimby and her health improved dramatically under his treatment. She remained with Quimby for a number of years to learn more about his healing methods. In 1866 she was injured and found herself in critical condition. Quimby had died just one month earlier so she could not turn to him. At that point she asked for her Bible and, while reading an account of Jesus’ healing, found herself suddenly well. She later referred to this as the moment she discovered Christian Science.
As you have read in the section on the Dresssers above, there has been significant controversy over whether Mrs Eddy’s healing methods are derived from Quimby or if they are her own discovery, a controversy that was instigated by Julius Dresser and aggravated by Eddy’s defensive response and her tenacious hold on the term “Christian Science.” Regardless of the validity of these criticisms, she is credited with the development of New Thought in three ways:
Bridging Congregationalist Calvinism with Qumby Mind Cure
White, Judah and Albanese agree that Eddy “utilized more Christian categories than any other metaphysical organization” in her teachings (Judah, p.257). Albanese quotes scholar Stephen Gottschalk who characterizes Eddy’s belief as “essential Calvinism” and “metaphysical dualism.” “In Christian Science as in Calvinism one is clearly confronted with the Pauline antithesis of the Spirit and the flesh.” (Albanese, p.290). Her teachings include acceptance of the Bible (as interpreted by Eddy), belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, that Jesus suffered for sins, belief in the crucifixion, the resurrection and the ascension of Jesus and the virgin birth. Eddy’s interpretation of these Calvinist beliefs placed her outside the orthodox church, but she at least retained the basic beliefs.
Development of the first true New Thought organization
Eddy was the first to establish a lasting organization despite repeated dissension and, 100 years after her death, it continues to be a strong, vibrant church. Many attribute her organizational success to her tenacity in defending her teachings and the trademark name “Christian Science,” however it may be that two other factors have been important: her adoption and reinterpretation of orthodox beliefs in lieu of outright rejection and her development of courses, classes and teaching to augment the work of healing practitioners.
Eddy’s impact on American culture
To understand New Thought, we must also understand the reaction that New Thought can have on culture. I am including this video because it dramatically illustrates the emotionally charged reaction that metaphysical and New Thought thinking can elicit from the those in American culture. Most of us have learned that American culture honors the “self-made man” who “pulls himself up by his bootstraps.” We envision that American culture is a land of opportunity for those who work hard. Few people represent American culture better than Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain), especially as portrayed by Val Kilmer in this video.
Ursula Gesterfield and Emma Curtis Hopkins
Braden (:138-149) discusses how Eddy trained two important people who subsequently made tremendous contributions to New Thought. Gesterfield’s work is outside the scope of this study. Hopkins is discussed in the next section.
Phil White on Mary Baker Eddy (Background of New Thought)
- 149 Four students of Quimby
- 150 Difficult life of Mary Baker Eddy
- 151 Eddy visits Quimby in 1862
- 152 Eddy discovers the transcendent God as primary source of healing
- 153 Theological comparison of Eddy and Quimby
- 154 Eddy pulls away from Quimby and introduces prayer
- 155 Eddy begins teaching
- 156 Eddy and Malicious Animal Magnetism
- 157 Eddy and quimbyisms
- 158 Eddy and opposition of Spirit and Matter
- 159 Eddys contribution to New Thought
Eric Butterworth on Mary Baker Eddy (Antecedents)
- 078 Review and reflection of early life of Mary Baker Eddy
- 079 Eddy meets Quimby
- 080 Eddy’s great discovery of self treatment
- 081 Controversy of Eddy’s originality
- 082 Neuroticism and conflicts with associates
- 083 Final editing of Science and Health
- 084 Establishment of the Christian Science organization
- 085 Critique of truth as taught by Mary Baker Eddy
- 086 Basic propositions of her teachings
- 087 Mortal mind illusion and the problem of absolutism
- 088 The absolute the relative and rejection of medicine
- 089 Eddy’s Statement of Being compared to Charles Fillmore
- 090 Eddy’s absolute approach to consciousness
- 091 Stand porter at the door of thought
- 092 Eddy inadvertently fosters New Thought
- 093 Why there is no movie about Mary Baker Eddy