The Religion That Kills: Christian Science: Abuse, Neglect, and Mind Control [Paperback]

Linda S. Kramer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 22, 1999

The Religion that Kills is a tool for understanding and recovering from the damaging effects of Christian Science. The book examines Christian Science in light of Robert J. Lifton s classic criteria for thought reform and shows how this religion traps its followers in thinking patterns that can harm them emotionally, physically, and spiritually. It also examines Mary Baker Eddy's charismatic personality, leadership style, claim to divine authority, and misuse of biblical terms. The Religion that Kills is also available as a Kindle book under the title Perfect Peril: Christian Science and Mind Control.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Linda Kramer has lectured at professional conferences and given numerous media interviews regarding Christian Science. She is a former Christian Scientist and holds a Ph.D. in chemistry.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Bookworld Services (November 22, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563841711
• ISBN-13: 978-1563841712
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,023,955 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

84 of 107 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book With A Regrettable Title, March 11, 2000

By 

Dale A. Lewis, EXCS [e-mail] (Alexandria, Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Religion That Kills: Christian Science: Abuse, Neglect, and Mind Control (Paperback)

I recognize that titles are designed to sell books, but, in this case, I fear that the title may unfortunately disguise Dr. Linda Kramer's book as a bit of latter-day yellow journalism instead of framing it as the thoughtful, respectful, and groundbreaking work that it is.

Like Dr. Kramer, I am a former-Christian Scientist who has extensive contact with other former-Christian Scientists. That something is wrong in Christian Science became obvious to me as I listened to the stories of other former-Christian Scientists, learned from them about the "little secrets" that family members and friends remaining in Christian Science were attempting to deny out of existence, and began to honestly assess what I had seen and experienced during the first quarter century of my life when I was a Christian Scientist.

There are plenty of Christian Science children, wrenching stories of family members who suffered and died due to treatable diseases, and an entire denomination in denial about its obvious meteoric decline. It took Dr. Kramer to pull all of the pieces together and to make sense out of this.

But to categorize Christian Science as a mind controlling cult? Christian Science is not the Unification Church or Hare Krishna or Jonestown or Heaven's Gate. Far from being drawn from the margins of society, Christian Scientists are typically cultured, pleasant, well educated, and, not infrequently, well-to-do. Is there heavy pressure on members from other Christian Scientists? Generally not. Food or sleep deprivation? Hardly. Lovebombing in a Christian Science Church? Uh, no. A strong, charismatic leader? But Mary Baker Eddy has been dead for almost 90 years!

Dr. Kramer asserts that the key to mind control in Christian Science lies in the Church's emphasis on spiritual healing. To heal, Christian Scientists must think like Mrs. Eddy taught that they should think. In Christian Science, the mind control is self-imposed. Dr. Kramer describes it as would give us dominion over the (seeming) problems we faced in this (seeming) material existence. If we failed in one instance, we just had to study harder. Our failure was not due to our religion but to our own lack of understanding. The system was always right. We just had to understand it better-to try harder. Most of the controls which molded our thought patterns were not openly imposed upon us, but were quietly implanted through our religion's doctrine. Promises of healing, "salvation" from material limitations, a sense of spiritual superiority, and the knowledge that believing in materiality was dangerous-these enticements and "knowledge" kept us striving to understand the "ultimate truth" of Christian Science; they molded our thoughts and the way we ran our lives. (Page 93)

Dr. Kramer then goes on to compare Christian Science to a common psychological mind control model (Lifton's). Her comparison, which relies heavily on pro-Christian Science sources, is convincing.

Dr. Kramer writes from an unapologetically Christian perspective, but she carefully keeps discussions of her faith separate from her analysis of mind control in Christian Science (except for where these discussions necessarily overlap). This separation makes her work entirely readable by people who need to address their Christian Science background without being quite ready for another journey of faith. Her discussion of faith is tremendously important, however, to document the experience of many of us who, like Dr. Kramer, were told that Christian Science was the ultimate religious experience, only to find that such was not the case at all.

By addressing the mind control aspect of Christian Science (as well as by sharing that there are meaningful journeys of faith after Christian Science), Dr. Kramer significantly contributes to completing the picture of the Christian Childhood by Barbara Wilson (whose childhood memories bear an uncanny Living and Dying in the Christian Science Church which finally gives a balanced view of Christian Science history. This book is a "must read" for anyone interested in Christian Science. I can only hope that Christian Scientists themselves will get past the title and read this book.

34 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not a typical CS experience, July 8, 2008

By 

E. Popp "Artist" (St. Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Religion That Kills: Christian Science: Abuse, Neglect, and Mind Control (Paperback)

I have been a Christian Scientist for all of my 25 years. As a healthy woman from a healthy family, I am troubled by the stories in this book. These are the negative experiences. I would recommend balancing the negative experiences recorded in this book with some more positive experiences in Christian Science, which can be read in the Christian Science Journal or Sentinel. One must also remember that tragic deaths occur in other religions, and under medical care. It is always a choice that Christian Scientists have to make - medical care or CS care. Many of the Christian Scientists I know do seek out medical care.

Christian Science is a religion that one must make his or her own. There are no rules about seeking medical attention or information as the author implies. Yes, the CS textbook is old. It was written in the 19th century with ideas pertinent to that era, but the ideas, the principles, are what is important in Christian Science. I lived a very happy and healthy Christian Science childhood. The experiences of extremists must not be used to color the perception of Christian Science or Christian Scientists in general.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Exaggeratory, and Offensive, May 21, 2009

By 

She Sells Seashells (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Religion That Kills: Christian Science: Abuse, Neglect, and Mind Control (Paperback)

Let's cut to the chase. We all know that the title of this book was used simply to entice readers. The fact of the matter is, if you've ever known a Christian Scientist, they are very practical, loving people. They only wish the best for their families, and themselves. The religion is not a cult, people come and go as they wish. People are never punished for their beliefs unless they are directly putting down the church (membership can be revoked). Many Christian Scientists live by the philosophy "God does not keep score." They try their best to rely on healing, but Christian Scientists are NOT against going to the doctor if a condition persists. This book really tries to put C.S. in a box. Christian Scientists are like any other group of religious people. There are good ones, and there are bad ones. So why write a book full of anti-C.S. propoganda? Just to sell books.