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Indianapolis Star, June 2, 2005

My View: Phil Davis

Christian Scientists want best for children

Phil Davis

There are people who think that when a person gets sick or dies, it's God's will. Many folks honestly and sincerely believe this. But, as a Christian Scientist—someone who worships a God who is both love and life—I find that idea impossible to accept.

This conviction has come from my own experience, an experience that has taught me to put my faith and trust in this loving, all-caring God. So far, I have seen God's love for His children to be more than equal to whatever challenges life throws my way.

I was prompted to think about this a little further by a recent article about the death of a two-day-old baby in Indiana whose parents withheld needed medical care because of their religious beliefs. I don't know much about the particular set of beliefs that led those parents to take the steps that they did. I do know, however, that when such tragedies happen, people tend to mistakenly connect them to Christian Scientists, who, in fact, have a long and successful track record of relying on prayer for their health care needs.

People ask, "What do Christian Scientists do when their children get sick?"

Perhaps this is a good time to set the record straight.

Where to begin? Well, first, we might begin with Christian Scientists as parents. The Christian Scientists I know love their children and want to provide them with the best form of health care. They are conscientious and vigilant over their children's health and well-being. And they obey the laws in the state in which they live—for example, working with physicians on childbirth issues or, where permitted, state-certified midwives.

Yes, it's true, many Christian Scientists would naturally turn to prayer for assistance with an ill child, but their choice of prayer is based on its success in quickly resolving health matters. In other words, that preference is no way church-directed doctrine or policy. Indeed, a foundational aspect of Christian Science practice is respect for every individual's relationship with God, and an acknowledgement of the uniqueness of each person's spiritual journey.

Consequently, Christian Science practitioners—those experienced and dedicated healers who apply the teachings of Christian Science to the full spectrum of human problems—pray for their patients, but do not serve as their "advisers." They do not tell their patients when to use Christian Science treatment or other forms of healthcare because those decisions are exclusively the responsibility of their patients. As a matter of fact, the Christian Scientists I know would not take that kind of meddling lightly. Intelligence and individuality are characteristics shared by many church members.

In short, they are reasonable and responsible people—the kind of people Indiana's law accommodates when it permits parents who wish to rely on spiritual healing to do so for their children. At the same time, this law does not exempt parents from providing proper healthcare for their children.

You'll find Christian Scientists all over the world, from all walks of life. If you ask them, you'll hear how Christian Science has deepened their understanding of their relationship to God.

But perhaps more than anything you'll hear Christian Scientists speak of their belief in an all-loving God who would never want anything but the best for His children. Just as they want nothing but the best for theirs.