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Christian Science Services
Church of Christ, Scientist: a neutral profile of what this congregation describes about its beliefs.
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42.4030° N, 86.2702° WOpen map →TraditionChurch of Christ, ScientistAbout →
Sourcing statusTradition default
Beliefs on file227 positions
Statement of faithNot on file
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 47 of 227 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
Christ22 positions
- Bodily Resurrection Same BodyStrongly affirmsTradition defaultJesus rose bodily in the same (transformed) body that was crucified.Estimated, not verified
- Christ Retains Humanity ForeverRejectsTradition defaultThe Son remains permanently incarnate: he retains a glorified human nature forever.Estimated, not verified
Sin & the fall13 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
- 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
- Fall Historical EventStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThere 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
- Historical Adam EveStrongly affirmsTradition defaultAdam and Eve were real, historical individuals from whom humanity descends.Estimated, not verified
- Original Sin RealStrongly affirmsTradition defaultAdam's first sin has real, inherited consequences for all his descendants (an "original sin"), not merely a bad example.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 FlacianRejectsTradition defaultAfter the Fall sin is so deep that it has become the very substance/essence of fallen human nature.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 affirmsTradition defaultSin 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 ActAffirmsTradition defaultProperly speaking, something counts as sin only if it is voluntary (chosen knowingly and willingly).Estimated, not verified
- Sin Total In Degree Perfectionism DeniedRejectsTradition defaultNo one in this life (apart from special exception) is wholly free from sin; the regenerate continue to sin.Estimated, not verified
Salvation15 positions
- Assurance Of Salvation PossibleRejectsTradition defaultA believer can have a settled present assurance that they are saved.Estimated, not verified
- Baptism Is Symbolic OnlyRejectsTradition defaultBaptism is a symbol/ordinance that publicly signifies a salvation already received by faith and does not itself convey saving grace.Estimated, not verified
The Holy Spirit19 positions
- Blasphemy Against Spirit UnforgivableStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThere is a specific sin against the Holy Spirit that is unforgivable.Estimated, not verified
- Filioque Double ProcessionStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe Holy Spirit eternally proceeds from the Father AND the Son (filioque).Estimated, not verified
The Church27 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 & ordinances9 positions
- Baptism Mode Immersion RequiredStrongly affirmsTradition defaultValid baptism requires full immersion of the body in water.Estimated, not verified
- Baptism Mode IndifferentStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe mode of baptism (immersion, pouring, or sprinkling) is a matter of indifference and does not affect validity.Estimated, not verified
Worship & liturgy6 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
- Tithes Offering As Worship ActLeans toward affirmingTradition defaultThe collection of tithes and offerings is itself an act of worship within the service.Estimated, not verified
Last things12 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 & science10 positions
- Creation Ex NihiloStrongly affirmsTradition defaultGod created the universe out of nothing (ex nihilo), not from pre-existing matter.Estimated, not verified
- General Revelation RealStrongly affirmsTradition defaultGod genuinely reveals something of himself through the natural world and the created order, apart from Scripture.Estimated, not verified
Life & bioethics17 positions
- Abortion Gravely Wrong In PrincipleLeans toward affirmingTradition defaultDeliberately 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 & marriage16 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 & politics10 positions
- Christ Lord Over Every Sphere TransformationNo firm positionTradition defaultChrist's lordship extends over every sphere of life (politics, economics, art, science) and Christians are called to bring all of them under his rule.Estimated, not verified
- Christians Should Seek Public OfficeLeans toward affirmingTradition defaultIt is fitting for Christians to seek and hold civil office in order to govern justly.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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