On 29 Nov 2001 16:53:35 GMT, jimdbb@aol.com (JimDBB) wrote:

>>Subject: Re: Christian Science clearly meets cult criteria
>>From: HR-Defense@aol.com (Human Rights Defense (ShyDavid))
>>It is my opinion that Hubbard followed Mary Baker Eddy's
>>processes, as outlined by Samuel L. Clemens in his book
>>"Christian Science." When one reads this book, one will be
>>astonished at the paralleles.
>You would be referring to Mark Twain's book, "Christian Science." It is
>amazing that not many people, including Mark Twain scholars, know that he wrote
>a book on CS. THe CS church had enough power back then to knock it out of
>print ala the Church of Co$. I found this book years ago in a used book store.
>
>Years after this I met a Twain scholar who knew nothing of this book and
>doubted my word on it. He went to the Twain archives and wrote to me that he
>found the book. Twain tore apart Mary Baker Eddy and CS from one end to the
>other, as only Twain could do.
>
>Jimdbb

Thanks for posting.

Linda Kramer wrote a book about the cult of CS, "The Religion that Kills"--(Available at amazon.com and also at barnes and noble.) I have this book on order, and so can't comment on it yet. I've pasted the editorial review from amazon.com below. Dr. Kramer gave a talk recently as well as a workshop at the conference sponsored by the Leo J. Ryan Educational Foundation. I have enjoyed my recent correspondence with her about her site which discusses CS as a cult.

http://www.christianway.org/ She has another article on CS here:

http://www.christianity.com/partner/Article_Display_Page/0,,PTID80748|CHID204063|CIID573944,00.html I believe it was Stephen Kent who mentioned that scn has some similarities to CS--I would never have agreed with him before reading Steve Hassan's Releasing the Bonds.

Caroline
Editorial Review (from amazon.com) The Religion That Kills : Christian Science: Abuse, Neglect, and Mind Control by Linda S., Dr. Kramer The author, Linda S. Kramer , March 7, 2000 Help for the hurting A child dies as its parents declare that nothing is wrong. An adult suffers silently with a treatable disease. Loving, caring church members emotionally neglect each other in times of illness, convinced that talking about a problem will make it difficult to heal. Welcome to the hidden world of Christian Science.

Few people realize that Christian Scientists are trapped by a way of thinking which twists their perception of reality, teaches them to mistrust their senses, and short-circuits their ability to make informed, reasoned decisions regarding health care. In short, few people realize that Christian Scientists are under mind control....

I never expected to write a book critical of Christian Science. I grew up in a Christian Science family, loving my religion and believing that it was the Truth. I spent four treasured years at Principia College (a college for Christian Scientists), and then became quite involved with the Christian Science student organization at my graduate school while earning an advanced degree in chemistry. (I served as president and Reader for a time.) I was a Mother Church member and attended a branch church until the age of thirty, although I never officially joined the branch church.

I reluctantly left Christian Science after finding some major discrepancies between its teachings and those presented in the Bible.

I then fought a long battle to break emotionally free from my former religion. My search for freedom led me into the study of mind control.

Through much research, many conversations, and a tremendous amount of introspection, I discovered a striking similarity between my emotional issues and those suffered not only by many former Christian Scientists, but also by the former members of several different cults.

I had to acknowledge that, despite its many good points, Christian Science involves mind control and can be quite emotionally, spiritually, and physically damaging.

I have talked with former Christian Scientists from all over the country who cannot understand their deep insecurities and relentless emotional struggles. Upon hearing or reading about my recovery process, many have been amazed by how closely my experiences and conclusions mesh with their own. Several former Christian Scientists have commented that my words have finally given them a way to describe years of undefined pain.

Having discovered that my insights are genuinely helping people, and at the urging of many who have heard my story, I decided to put my thoughts into book form. I wrote this book NOT to attack the Christian Science Church, but to help those whom the Church's teachings have inadvertently hurt.

"The Religion That Kills" examines Christian Science in light of Robert Lifton's widely accepted criteria for mind control - criteria commonly used by cult experts to decide whether a particular group is exercising undue influence over its members. My investigation relies heavily on Mrs. Eddy's writings, on comments and memoirs by her followers, and on case histories. The book also examines Mrs. Eddy's leadership style and some of the biblical issues that led me out of Christian Science, as well as telling the story of my journey to emotional freedom. "The Religion That Kills" is a tool for:

*Helping those hurt by Christian Science *Understanding Christian Science logic and terminology *Effectively discussing biblical issues with Christian Scientists * Helping Christian Scientists to objectively evaluate their religion Some critics have questioned my motives, the validity of my references and case histories, my choice of publishers, and even my current religious beliefs. I understand their accusations since both current and former Christian Scientists often become very defensive when the religion is questioned. Allow me to offer the following assurances to those who feel that I am unfairly or unethically attacking Christian Science:

*My motive is to help the hurting. I fully acknowledge that Christian Science has many good aspects and that its people generally act out of good intentions.

*My references are overwhelmingly sympathetic to Christian Science.

For example, even though the chapter on Mrs. Eddy contains eleven references from the hated Cather/Milmine biography (two of which actually quote prominent Christian Scientists), it also references Christian Scientists OVER NINETY TIMES in the same chapter. This hardly represents a bias against Mrs. Eddy.

*My case histories have been carefully verified. I use pseudonyms both to protect my subjects and to avoid embarrassing their Christian Science relatives. I stayed away from sensationalism when compiling the cases, leaving out several real-life "horror stories" and refusing to use one case when the subject wanted me to "expose" his relatives by name.

*Huntington House Publishers changed very little of my manuscript, so my choice of publishers has not significantly affected the book's message. The publisher made only one major change - the title. I had a much gentler title in mind but Huntington House insisted on "The Religion That Kills." While I detest this title, I cannot dispute its accuracy. Christian Scientists are sincere, intelligent, loving people who are caught in a system of thinking that often results in inadvertent abuse, neglect, and death.

*I make no apologies for my current religious beliefs. I assure you, however, that I stay clear of religions (including some Christian churches) that discourage independent thought. My book treats its secular and biblical issues separately to accommodate readers who do not wish to evaluate Christian Science from a religious perspective.

I have no personal score to settle with Christian Science or its adherents. I only want to help the hurting people whom I have encountered. My hope is that readers will let the book speak for itself instead of reading it through filters of mistrust, superiority, or defensiveness. "The time for thinkers has come." (Mary Baker Eddy) Don't be afraid to think about this book.

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