Christian Science (1907) (The ^AOxford Mark Twain)

By Mark Twain

Book Overview

Christian Science begins, as Garry Wills notes in his introduction, with Twain's description of a man who "falls off a cliff and finds his bones projecting from him like the arms of a hat rack. After a course of treatment from a Christian Science practitioner, he calls in a veterinarian and pays the Christian Scientist with an imaginary check for an imaginary cure." Although Twain recognized that everyone was born with "the power which a man's imagination has over his body to heal it or make it sick," he was deeply suspicious of the empire-building, power-mongering, delusions, and evasions of the founder of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Mary Baker Eddy. Wills notes that "Christian Science can be read at several levels, all rewarding--first, as a satire on Christian Science's wilder pretensions and its founder's deceptions; then, as an example of Twain's regard for language as the indicator of mental and moral conditions; and finally as part of a biographical descent into the nihilism of his last days. On all these counts the book gets us very close to the heart of American culture."

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195101553
• ISBN13: 9780195101553
• Release Date: December 1996
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.8" x 1.2" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

Great book for Twain lovers

If you love Mark Twain, you'll love this book. Be prepared there is no Becky and Big Jim to be found, just Twain's delightful writing style. Twain taking on the CHristian Scientists is enlightening and informative. I liked it very much

One of my favorites

I recommend all books by this author. I also love the fact that the publisher, 1stWorld Library (or 1stWolrd Publishing) has made the text slightly larger which is a blessing for my thirty-something eyes. Great job. I have dozens of books by this publisher. The Second Declaration Wild Knowing Every Day A Miracle Happens Les Miserables, Volume I & II THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO Vol II Animal Farm Planets American Buddha Your Star Child: Attracting, Birthing and Parenting an Evolved Soul The Devil's Disciple

This Is How It's Done

Twain amusingly eviscerates Mary Baker Eddy and her religion in this still-amusing book. A century later, his deft skewering of religious foibles and fantasies still delights. Would that he could see the world of today: Christian Science still exists, though in a much shrunken form, and hundreds (thousands!) of equally improbable cults thrive alongside it. Where's Twain now that we really need him??

The First Important Attack on a Dangerous Cult

Christian Science is neither Christian nor science but is merely a pseudo-scientific cult that has lead to the deaths of many people, including innocent children. I am all in favor of religious tolerance but tolerance ends when a religion starts to harm the rights of others, as Christian Science has done in allowing a number of their children to die. You have the right to martyr yourself if you like, but NO ONE has the right to martyr their children! People who review this book negatively are either ignorant Christian Scientists or idiotic individuals who think tolerance entends to even those who allow their children to die for their parent's beliefs. Christian Science is a rapidly dying cult that will be gone by the end of this century and the world will be a better place becasue of it.

Still one of the best books about "Christian 'Science'"

The first part of Mark Tawin's work on "Christian 'Science'" is very funny; he shows through parody and wit just how ignorant, stupid, superstitious, and gullible human beings can be. The second part is much more serious: Twain shows how the sinister organization came into existance, and remarks upon Eddy's criminal and abusive acts when starting the business, as well as mentions some of the plagerism she committed.This is by far one of the best books about how the "Christian 'Science'" organization came to exist. While the book is a classic, it is also timeless.If you are interested in Eddy or "Christian 'Science,'" this is the single best source for you to explore. I recomend this book HIGHLY!