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Christian Science First Church
Christian Science (Metaphysical Restorationism) · Glendale: a neutral profile of what this congregation describes about its beliefs.
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Public details for this congregation.
TraditionChristian Science (Metaphysical Restorationism)About →
Sourcing statusFrom their statement of faith
Beliefs on file332 positions
Statement of faithPublished →
Where they stand
Each position below is labelled by how it was sourced, so you can weigh it for yourself.
VerifiedConfirmed by the church
From their statement of faithEstimated, not verified
Tradition defaultEstimated, not verified
Showing 58 of 332 positions across 18 topics. Expand any topic to see the rest.
God & the Trinity16 positions
- Arian Son First CreatureStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Son is the first and highest created being, brought into existence by the Father before all else, and therefore had a beginning.Estimated, not verified
- Exhaustive Foreknowledge FutureAffirmsTradition defaultGod infallibly and exhaustively knows the entire future, including all future free choices, as settled certainties.Estimated, not verified
Christ37 positions
- Assumed Unfallen Human NatureStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithChrist assumed an unfallen, sinless human nature, untouched by original sin/corruption.Estimated, not verified
- Bodily Resurrection Same BodyStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithJesus rose bodily in the same (transformed) body that was crucified.Estimated, not verified
Sin & the fall24 positions
- Adams Sin Brought Physical DeathStrongly affirmsTradition defaultPhysical death entered the human race as a consequence of Adam's sin; humans were not originally subject to death.Estimated, not verified
- All Sins Equal Before GodStrongly rejectsFrom their statement of faithBefore God all sins are fundamentally equal: there are no greater or lesser sins.Estimated, not verified
- Believer Remains Sinner And RighteousStrongly rejectsFrom their statement of faithThe justified believer is at once righteous (in Christ) and still a sinner (in himself): simul iustus et peccator.Estimated, not verified
- Cosmic Fall Creation AffectedStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithAdam's sin disordered not only humanity but the wider created order (a "cosmic fall" affecting nature itself).Estimated, not verified
- Entire Sanctification AttainableStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithBelievers can, by grace, reach a state in this life in which they are freed from all willful/known sin (Christian perfection / entire sanctification).Estimated, not verified
- Evil Arises From Creaturely FreedomAffirmsTradition defaultMoral evil arises necessarily from the gift of genuine creaturely free will, which God could not give without the possibility of its misuse.Estimated, not verified
- Evil Is Illusion Or UnrealityStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithEvil and sin have no genuine reality; they are errors of perception or illusion to be dispelled by truth.Estimated, not verified
- Fall Historical EventStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithThere was a real, primeval historical event ("the Fall") in which the first humans disobeyed God and lost an original state of integrity.Estimated, not verified
- Fall Symbolic Of Human ConditionStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe Genesis Fall narrative is best read as a symbolic or mythic depiction of the universal human condition, not a report of a singular past event.Estimated, not verified
- Fallen Can Do Civic GoodStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithEven without saving grace, the unregenerate can perform genuine civic/external good (justice, kindness) that is truly good on its own level.Estimated, not verified
- Historical Adam EveStrongly affirmsTradition defaultAdam and Eve were real, historical individuals from whom humanity descends.Estimated, not verified
- Image Of God Retained After FallStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithThe image of God in humanity, though damaged by sin, is genuinely retained and is the basis of human dignity and capacity for relationship with God.Estimated, not verified
- Original Sin RealStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithAdam's first sin has real, inherited consequences for all his descendants (an "original sin"), not merely a bad example.Estimated, not verified
- Original Sin Transmitted By PropagationStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithOriginal sin is transmitted to each person through natural generation (by being descended from Adam), not by imitation.Estimated, not verified
- Satan Real Personal AgentStrongly affirmsTradition defaultSatan is a real, personal spiritual being who tempts and opposes God, not merely a symbol or personification of evil.Estimated, not verified
- Sin Became Human Substance FlacianStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithAfter the Fall sin is so deep that it has become the very substance/essence of fallen human nature.Estimated, not verified
- Sin Is Disease Or Missing MarkStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithSin is best understood primarily as a sickness/disorder of the soul or a "missing of the mark" to be healed, more than a legal offense to be punished.Estimated, not verified
- Sin Is Primarily Relational BreachLeans toward affirmingTradition defaultSin is most fundamentally a rupture of relationship/covenant with God and neighbor, more than law-breaking or substance-corruption.Estimated, not verified
- Sin Is Transgression Of LawStrongly rejectsFrom their statement of faithSin is fundamentally the transgression of God's law/command (an offense against a divine standard).Estimated, not verified
- Sin Is Ultimately Self Idolatry PrideAffirmsTradition defaultThe root of all sin is pride / inordinate self-love (turning from God to self).Estimated, not verified
- Sin Requires Voluntary ActStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithProperly speaking, something counts as sin only if it is voluntary (chosen knowingly and willingly).Estimated, not verified
- Sin Total In Degree Perfectionism DeniedStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithNo one in this life (apart from special exception) is wholly free from sin; the regenerate continue to sin.Estimated, not verified
- Total Depravity Every FacultyStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithSin has corrupted every part of human nature (mind, will, affections, body) so that no faculty is left untouched ("total" in extent, not necessarily in degree).Estimated, not verified
- Total Inability Cannot Choose GodStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithIn the fallen state, a person is unable to turn to God or do saving good without a prior, enabling work of divine grace.Estimated, not verified
Salvation35 positions
- Assurance Grounded In Christ AloneStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithAssurance rests on Christ's finished work and God's promise, not on the believer's own works or sacramental performance.Estimated, not verified
- Assurance Of Salvation PossibleRejectsTradition defaultA believer can have a settled present assurance that they are saved.Estimated, not verified
The Holy Spirit28 positions
- Assurance Is Normal For BelieversStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithSettled assurance of salvation is normal and to be expected for genuine believers in this life.Estimated, not verified
- Blasphemy Against Spirit UnforgivableStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThere is a specific sin against the Holy Spirit that is unforgivable.Estimated, not verified
The Church30 positions
- Apostolicity Is Doctrinal Not SuccessionalRejectsTradition defaultApostolicity consists primarily in fidelity to apostolic DOCTRINE, not in an unbroken chain of ordinations from the apostles.Estimated, not verified
- Bishop Of Rome Has Universal PrimacyStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe bishop of Rome (the pope) holds a divinely instituted primacy of jurisdiction over the whole church.Estimated, not verified
Sacraments & ordinances19 positions
- Anointing For Healing PracticeStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithThe church should anoint the sick with oil and pray over them for healing (per James 5).Estimated, not verified
- Baptism Mode Immersion RequiredStrongly affirmsTradition defaultValid baptism requires full immersion of the body in water.Estimated, not verified
Worship & liturgy13 positions
- Contemporary Worship Music EmbracedRejectsTradition defaultContemporary worship music (CCM, praise-and-worship bands, modern choruses) is fitting and desirable for the gathered church.Estimated, not verified
- Healing Ministry In ServiceStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithPraying for and expecting miraculous physical healing should be a regular feature of worship.Estimated, not verified
Last things17 positions
- Apocalyptic Prophecy Read Literally FuturisticallyStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe prophecies of Daniel and Revelation should be read primarily as literal predictions of still-future events.Estimated, not verified
- Christ Returns Before The MillenniumAffirmsTradition defaultChrist returns bodily before the millennial kingdom and personally inaugurates it on earth.Estimated, not verified
Scripture7 positions
- Authority Sola ScripturaStrongly affirmsTradition defaultScripture is the sole infallible rule of faith and practice for the Church.Estimated, not verified
- Canon Protestant 66Strongly affirmsTradition defaultThe canon of Scripture consists of exactly the 66 books of the Protestant Bible.Estimated, not verified
Revelation, creation & science15 positions
- Biblical Miracles Actually HappenedStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithThe miracles recorded in Scripture (e.g., the parting of the sea, Jesus' healings, walking on water) actually occurred as described.Estimated, not verified
- Creation Ex NihiloStrongly affirmsTradition defaultGod created the universe out of nothing (ex nihilo), not from pre-existing matter.Estimated, not verified
Life & bioethics19 positions
- Abortion Gravely Wrong In PrincipleStrongly affirmsFrom their statement of faithDeliberately ending a pregnancy by killing the unborn is in itself a grave moral wrong.Estimated, not verified
- Abortion Permitted To Save Mothers LifeAffirmsTradition defaultAbortion is morally permissible when continuing the pregnancy would directly threaten the mother's life.Estimated, not verified
Sexuality & marriage17 positions
- Church Should Bless Same Sex UnionsNo firm positionTradition defaultThe church should liturgically bless and solemnize same-sex unions.Estimated, not verified
- Gay Christians Called To CelibacyNo firm positionTradition defaultChristians who experience exclusive same-sex attraction are called to lifelong celibacy or to a mixed-orientation marriage with the opposite sex.Estimated, not verified
Society & politics27 positions
- Active Nonviolent Resistance ObligatoryStrongly rejectsFrom their statement of faithChristians should actively resist injustice through nonviolent means (protest, civil disobedience, noncooperation), not merely abstain from violence.Estimated, not verified
- Almsgiving Is A Binding ObligationStrongly rejectsFrom their statement of faithGiving to the poor is a binding moral obligation, not optional charity, and to withhold from the needy is a sin.Estimated, not verified
Angelology Demonology12 positions
- Angelology Must Be Strictly BiblicalStrongly affirmsTradition defaultBeliefs about angels and demons should be limited to what Scripture plainly teaches, rejecting speculative hierarchies, named extra-biblical angels, and elaborate demonologies.Estimated, not verified
- Angels Are CreatedStrongly affirmsTradition defaultAngels are created beings, made by God, and are not eternal or self-existent.Estimated, not verified
Anthropology6 positions
- Body Essential To PersonStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe body is essential to being a complete human person, not an accidental or dispensable container for the soul.Estimated, not verified
- Historical AdamStrongly affirmsTradition defaultAdam and Eve were real, historical individuals who are the biological ancestors of all humanity.Estimated, not verified
Covenant Law Israel3 positions
- Dietary Food Laws No Longer BindingAffirmsTradition defaultThe Old Testament clean/unclean food laws are no longer binding, and all foods are permitted.Estimated, not verified
- Full Torah Observance For BelieversRejectsTradition defaultFollowers of Jesus, at least those of Jewish background, should continue to observe the full Torah (dietary law, festivals, Sabbath, circumcision).Estimated, not verified
Mariology Saints7 positions
- Christ Sole MediatorStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThere is exactly one mediator between God and humanity (Jesus Christ) and no creature shares in that mediating office.Estimated, not verified
- Immaculate ConceptionStrongly rejectsTradition defaultMary was preserved free from the stain of original sin from the very first moment of her own conception.Estimated, not verified
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