The Difference Between Christian Science and New Age

Before coming to Plainfield Church, I found myself drifting into the by-ways of New Age teachings. At the time I believed it to be compatible with Christian Science; although the more I read New Age materials, the less I read the Bible and Mrs. Eddy writings.

The teachings at Plainfield Christian Science Church, Independent, have been correcting my misconceptions of God, Christ, and Christian Science. The process is healing the effects of the influence of New Age, which left me with a false sense of security. While I stand by what Mrs. Eddy writes, “she (Mrs. Eddy) feels, as she always has felt, that all are privileged to work out their own salvation according to their light, and that our motto should be the Master’s counsel, ‘Judge not, that ye be not judged’” (S&H, p. 443), I feel it is important to distinguish Mrs. Eddy’s work from that which is the total opposite of her teachings. Mrs. Eddy had to address this during her time.

One of the reasons I began to investigate the origins of New Age was due to the horrendous fires and floods in California this past year, the capital of New Age — this, combined with the effects on my life and watching the trend of mixing Christian Science and New Age within the movement, which included teachers and practitioners promoting it.

As I began to research the roots of New Age, I found it is often influenced by theosophy (Eastern Mysticism), hypnotism, and spiritualism. Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health, on page 110, “No analogy exists between the vague hypotheses of agnosticism, pantheism, theosophy, spiritualism, or millenarianism and the demonstrable truths of Christian Science.” The Christian basis gets watered down and lost by aligning with New Age. I have gained a greater appreciation of Mrs. Eddy, her Christian life and her love and use of the Bible as I read the history of her life and work.

The transformation to my life since being taught this Science of Christ correctly and practicing biblical principles is immeasurable. This clearer understanding is giving me a closer relationship with God and the great blessing of working for Him.