Definition

Noun: * A member of the Church of Christ, Scientist, a Protestant Christian denomination founded in the United States in the 19th century by Mary Baker Eddy. The term specifically denotes an adherent of its teachings, which emphasize spiritual healing through prayer based on an understanding of God as divine Mind.

Usage

The term "Christian Scientist" is used as a proper noun to identify a person who belongs to this specific religious group. It is typically capitalized.

Examples

• She has been a Christian Scientist her entire life and attends services at the local branch church.
• As a Christian Scientist, he relies on prayer for healing rather than conventional medical treatment.
• Mary Baker Eddy, the founder, was the first Christian Scientist.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used attributively (functioning like an adjective) to describe things related to the denomination, such as "Christian Scientist beliefs," "Christian Scientist practitioner," or "Christian Scientist reading room."

Variants and Related Words

• Christian Science (noun): The name of the religion itself, its teachings, or its system of practice.
• Scientist (noun): When used alone and uncapitalized, this word has a completely different, secular meaning related to the natural sciences (e.g., a biologist, a physicist). It does not imply any connection to Christian Science.

Synonyms

• Adherent of Christian Science
• Member of the Church of Christ, Scientist

Notes on Meaning

• It is important to distinguish "Christian Scientist" (a proper noun referring to the religious adherent) from the general phrase "Christian scientist" (which could descriptively, though uncommonly, refer to a scientist who is also a Christian). The religious term is always capitalized.
• The core practice associated with Christian Scientists is spiritual healing through prayer, as outlined in Eddy's book, .

Noun

1. a member of the Protestant church founded in the United States by Mary Baker Eddy