"A Bow of Promise on the Cloud": The Rise, Decline, and Regeneration of Christian Science, 1925-2024

In 1925, the Christian Science movement, which emphasized healing through prayer, was the fastest-growing religion in the United States, yet by the turn of the twenty-first century, the church was in freefall. Using church records and contemporary and current published sources, this article delves i...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Swensen, Rolf (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: University of Californiarnia Press 2024
In: Nova religio
Year: 2024, Volume: 27, Issue: 3, Pages: 29-56
Further subjects:B Sects
B decline of religion
B Rational choice
B Christian Science
B routinization of charisma
B Rodney Stark
B Metaphysics
B sociology of religion
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:In 1925, the Christian Science movement, which emphasized healing through prayer, was the fastest-growing religion in the United States, yet by the turn of the twenty-first century, the church was in freefall. Using church records and contemporary and current published sources, this article delves into the reasons for this dramatic downturn. Evidence presented here shows that, despite an initial impressive spurt of growth, one major factor in the movement's decline was the strong centralized control that the governing Christian Science Board of Directors of The Mother Church in Boston exercised over the movement. This policy shackled both local churches and their members, resulting in conformity and only sporadic efforts to share the faith. Other reasons for the slide include the rise of medical science and few social activities for young and old alike. This article utilizes the framework of the rational choice school of the sociology of religion to illustrate the historic rise, decline, and regeneration of one of America's most distinctive religious groups.
ISSN:1541-8480
Contains:Enthalten in: Nova religio
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1353/nvr.2024.a919625