Can we talk religion?

[Fierce Deity]

I hope I didn't sound like I was ridiculing you Kristen. I'm honestly interested, I'm just in the dark. I know nothing of this particular denomination. I try to learn about other denominations as much as possible. I don't mean to come off as arrogant, just curious and willing to admit my ignorance.

So just to make sure I get what you are saying, disease is only the physical manifestation of its mental manifestation? So when somebody thinks that their vessel (otherwise, body) is broken somehow, it thus becomes so? Or is it still just in the mind, and not a physical matter at all? I may have confused myself, but I'm not sure. 

[snabbott]

If I'm understanding it correctly (and it's quite possible that I am not), the idea behind spiritual healing in Christian Science is that disease isn't real.

Something like:
1. God is completely good.
2. God created everything.
3. Because God is good, he couldn't (or wouldn't) create anything bad.
4. Evil and disease are bad, therefore God did not create them, therefore they are not real.

So if people can realize that there is no illness, they will be well.

Somewhere in there was the idea that only spiritual and not physical things are real.

I've probably made a mistake in there, but that's the way it sounds to me.

Oh, and Kristen, you didn't come off as being the least bit rude.

THANK YOU! That is exactly our stance.

Given those beliefs, the idea of spiritual healing makes perfect sense.

There is an assumption in there that I (respectfully) disagree with, though. I agree that God did not create evil, but He did create free will. In my understanding, sin/evil is the use of that free will to rebel against God.

[Fierce Deity]

If I'm understanding it correctly (and it's quite possible that I am not), the idea behind spiritual healing in Christian Science is that disease isn't real.

Something like:
1. God is completely good.
2. God created everything.
3. Because God is good, he couldn't (or wouldn't) create anything bad.
4. Evil and disease are bad, therefore God did not create them, therefore they are not real.

So if people can realize that there is no illness, they will be well.

Somewhere in there was the idea that only spiritual and not physical things are real.

I've probably made a mistake in there, but that's the way it sounds to me.

Oh, and Kristen, you didn't come off as being the least bit rude.

THANK YOU! That is exactly our stance.

Given those beliefs, the idea of spiritual healing makes perfect sense.

There is an assumption in there that I (respectfully) disagree with, though. I agree that God did not create evil, but He did create free will. In my understanding, sin/evil is the use of that free will to rebel against God.

I'd have to agree. I don't feel like ignoring evil/sin makes the particular evil not exist, it just allows the believer to live in a world where they don't have to concern themselves with it. If I ignored the existence of war in this world by avoiding the news and public forums of discussion, I can imagine my life being a little easier, but it doesn't mean that war does not exist. I respectfully would have to disagree Kristen, but I hope I don't offend you with my words.