The Encyclopedia of World Religions

90 S Christian Science

derives from the phrase “Christ’s Mass.” Christ mas is probably the most popular Christian celebration. The earliest celebration of Christmas that we know about took place in Rome in the middle of the fourth century. This is the period during which C HRISTIANITY was in the process of becoming the official religion of the Roman Empire. A century earlier the Roman emperor Aurelian (ruled 270–275) had made the WORSHIP of Sol Invic tus, “The unconquered sun,” the official religion of the empire. In 274 he had required all subjects of Rome to celebrate the birth of the sun on Decem ber 25. This is the date when days in the North ern Hemisphere begin to grow longer again. Many speculate that Aurelian’s celebration of the birth of the sun was the origin of the celebration of Christ mas on December 25. During the fourth century the celebration of Jesus’ birth on December 25 spread. Many churches in the eastern half of the Roman Empire— the ancestors of today’s Orthodox churches ( see E ASTERN O RTHODOX C HRISTIANITY )—were already celebrating Jesus’ birth and BAPTISM on January 6. They continued to celebrate Jesus’ baptism on that day. On December 25 they remembered his birth and the visits of the shepherds and the magi. Churches in the western half of the Roman Empire—the ancestors of today’s Catholic and Protestant churches ( see R OMAN C ATHOLICISM and P ROTESTANISM )—thought of the day somewhat dif ferently. On December 25 they celebrated Jesus’ birth and the visit of the shepherds. On January 6, called Epiphany, they celebrated the visit of the magi. A rich variety of popular customs has devel oped around the celebration of Christmas. In North America Christmas observances include sculpted scenes of Jesus’ birth known as creches, special songs known as Christmas carols, an evergreen tree decorated with ornaments and lights, legends about a popular figure named Santa Claus who gives gifts (especially to children), the sending of greeting cards, and midnight worship services. Each of these elements has a different ori gin. Francis of Assisi ( see F RANCIS OF A SSISI AND

of Christianity not allowed by dominating institu tional structures can develop and flourish.

Further reading: Kwame Bediako, Jesus and the Gospel in Africa: History and Experience (New York: Orbis, 2004); Elizabeth Isichei, A History of Christianity in Africa (Grand Rapids, Mich.: W. B. Eerdmans, 1995); Donald B. Kraybill, Who Are the Anabaptists?: Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites (Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 2003). Christian Science A Christian movement that emphasizes healing. Christian Science began in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1866 Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910) experienced a sudden healing that she attributed to G OD . In 1875 she published Science and Health to expound her teachings about divine healing. When the various churches showed little interest, she and several followers formed the first Church of Christ, Scientist, in 1879. Since that time the teachings of Christian Science have spread throughout the world. Christian Science teaches that all genuine real ity is spiritual. Sickness and distress result when people mistake the material for the real. Christian Science denies that J ESUS was God, but it sees itself as thoroughly Christian. It uses Jesus’s healings as the basis of its teaching that healing is possible for those who follow God’s spiritual laws. The Church of Christ, Scientist, maintains a register of “practitioners” or healers. These are not exactly ministers; they do not lead congregational WORSHIP . Services consist of readings from Science and Health and the B IBLE . On Wednesday evenings congregations hold services at which people pres ent testimonies of being healed. Many municipalities have Christian Science reading rooms. The church also publishes one of the leading American newspapers, the Christian Science Monitor. The Monitor does not, however, explicitly advocate the church’s teachings.

Christmas The Christian celebration of the birth of J ESUS on December 25. The English name