The Church of Christ, Scientist- The Christian Science Funeral Rite

Question 1

Rooted deep in protesten Christianity (non-liturgical), whose followers are memebers of a religious movement that stresses spiritual healing.

• Based on the teaching that God is wholly good and all-powerful, and that man is created by Him.

Answer 1

The Church of Christ, Scientist

Question 2

Everything eternal, spiritual and wholly good.

• Health is among this.

Answer 2

Reality

Question 3

Whatever is unlike God- injustice, sin, sickness or grief.

• Disease is among this

Answer 3

Unreal

Question 4

• The priciple text of the church of christ, scientist
• Written by Mary Baker Eddy in 1875
• Contains the full statement of Christian Science beliefs.
• Mrs. Eddy founded the Church in Boston, Massachusetts in 1879.

Answer 4

Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures

Question 5

Healing is brough about through understanding, members of the Church of Christ, Scientist, normally do not seek medical help, including the use of hospitals, and physicians.

• Death is viewed as one more phase of the immortal existence of man.

Answer 5

Spiritual Healing

Question 6

• The Church of Christ, Scientist does not have clergy or ministers
• This person may be the officiant of any service of the Church, including a funeral service.
• Any member of the Mother Church (the original church in Boston) may also serve as the officiant according to Church By-laws.

Answer 6

Reader or Practitioner

Notification of the Clergy

Question 7

Due to the members beliefs toward sickness and healing, most deaths of Church of Christ, Scientist will come under the jurisdiction of a Coroner, Medical Examiner or Justice of the Peace and will take place somewhere other than a medical facility.

• The circumstances surrounding the death will determine whether or not any restrictions will be placed.

Answer 7

Removal of the Remains

Question 8

• Embalming and public viewing are based on individual customs and wishes of the deceased and family.
• There are no beliefs within the Church to either encourage or discourage its members from being embalmed.

Answer 8

Preparation of the Remains

Question 9

• Clothing and casket are left up to the individual preferences of the family.
• Since this is a Church of laymen, without clergy to express “official opinions” it appears that the individual and family preferences determine most of the activities involved when a death occurs.

Answer 9

Dressing and Casketing the Remains

Question 10

Similar to other protestant denominations with a few notable exceptions:

• Funeral service may be held anywhere except the Christian Science Church. (Most often the funeral home or the cemetery, either in the chapel or actual grave site).
• Officiant will be either a Practitioner or a Reader

Answer 10

The Funeral Service

Question 11

• Method of disposition is left up to individual preference.
• Earth burial, entombment and cremation are all permissable.

Answer 11

The Committal Service