Articles on Cults and New Religions

James Walker

A book rejected over forty years ago by the Church of Christ, Scientist is the center of a storm of debate raging among faithful Christian Scientists and leaders at the Mother Church in Boston.

The controversial book, The Destiny of the Mother Church, by Bliss Knapp, has been now been released by the Mother Church and displayed inChristian Science reading rooms around the world.

Critics from within the ranks have raised charges of "heresy" and "apostasy" claiming that the Church has knowingly published false information about founder, Mary Baker Eddy, in exchange for $90 million from the Knapp estate.

According to Time magazine, the book exalts the role of Eddy to that of "virtually a second Christ" -- a claim that many Christian Scientists find embarrassing, inaccurate, and a likely reason the book was originally rejected by the Mother Church in 1948. (Time, October 14, 1991 p.57).

The book's author, Bliss Knapp, was a faithful Christian Scientist whose father, Ira, was an influential Church insider and part of Eddy's inner circle.

The Destiny of the Mother Church, represents Knapp's faith in Christian Science, and his memories of and Eddy.

"According to Knapp, her arrival as a religious figure was foretold by the biblical prophet Isaiah (`thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles'). Knapp further contends that Eddy's `work or assignment was complementary to that of Christ Jesus.'" (ibid).

Many faithful members maintain that this veneration and elevation of Eddy is contrary to true Christian Science and is the reason that the book was rejected by the Mother Church originally.

In a telephone interview, former Christian Scientist, Carolyn Poole, told Watchman Fellowship, "This is causing much division in the Church because this book was completely rejected as unacceptable in 1947. Some Christian Scientists believe that the mother Church has sold out for "30 pieces of silver."

The "30 pieces of silver" in this case is actually $90 million dollars. "Disillusioned church members assert that the book was published in order to obtain a bequest of $90 million from the Knapp family, whose fortune was based on California agriculture, real estate and oil." (Time).

According to the bequest, $90 million dollars from the Knapp estate would be given to the Mother Church if they changed their minds on Destiny and made the book available in all 2500 reading rooms by the year 1993.

Recent reports suggest the Church may be in desperate need of the cash. The Church is facing a serious decline in both membership and finances.

Some reports estimate the Church lost over $200 million in the last 30 years on their Pulitzer prize winning daily newspaper, Christian Science Monitor.

According to the terms of the Knapp will, the $90 million will go to Stanford University and the Los Angeles Count Museum of Art if the conditions of the bequest are not fully met by the Mother Church.

Some are questioning whether the reading rooms will fully comply with the wishes of the Mother Church and the terms of the Knapp bequest.

Lee Z. Johnson, former Church archivist, sent a letter of protest to the Church's board and to reading rooms worldwide (Time).

The result of the controversy and opposition has appeared to cause reluctance on the part of some reading rooms to display or promote the book.

Poole, told Watchman Fellowship, "I called a number reading rooms here in Southern California requesting the book and they all either stalled or tried to switch me over to other more official books.

"After repeated attempts I could not obtain a copy from a reading room. I received my copy from a friend."

Carolyn Poole is the Director of Christian Way International, Inc. a Christian ministry of former members headquartered in Lancaster, California (P.O. Box 1675, 93539).

Watchman Fellowship also was unable to purchase the book.

I attempted to purchase the book from the local reading room. The book was on a shelf in the public area of the room and was marked "display copy."

I was told by room representative, Pansy Davis, that I could purchase the "display copy."

But when I arrived at the desk to pay for it, she noticed the title and twice asked me if I was a member of the Church and she wanted to know why I wished to buy it.

She told me that she had to make a phone call and after a brief discussion on the phone, she told me that I could not buy the book, but if I liked she could take my name and phone number and they could order a copy for me.

Attempts at the First Church reading rooms in Ft. Worth and Dallas were equally unsuccessful. The Dallas reading room did not even have a display copy available but both offered to order the book.

The book is blunt and frank in its adoration of Eddy, but some charge that the book is not unlike the true teachings of the Church. The real fear is that the book may be too honest.

Poole stated, "The objection to the book has been that it puts Mary in the place of Jesus... I can show many places in Christian Science writings by Mary Baker Eddy where she makes herself equal to if not above Jesus."

Poole added, "As some Christian Scientists reevaluate their relationship with the Mother Church and the comparison of Christ with Eddy, this may become an opportunity for Christians to witness."