Product Description
The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Christian Science; ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

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

Not one of Twain's best
Twain enjoyed skewering odd-ball reigions, especially ones he thought had a chance of causing great mischief, witness his appendix to Roughing It (Mark Twain Library), in which he preserved for all time the Mormons' disgraceful slaughter of innocent settlers (the "Mountain Meadow Massacre") and this book. The first is great writing, but this suffers from Twain's use of endless repetition to make a point.

A better book on Christian Science is The Life of Mary Baker G. Eddy and the History of Christian Science, a thorough debunking of Christian Science and Mary Baker Eddy. Highly recommended.

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

Christian Science and Mark Twain
It's interesting to read this book after 100 years have gone by. Twain, a self discribed cynic would by nature write this type of book. None the less, If you know people that have been healed by CS, you realize the impact that CS has on society over the last 100 years. I wonder what MT would have written about Martin Luther?

Twain also admired Mary Baker Eddy
When Twain penned this book in 1907, the idea of spiritual healing was radical and new to this time and perhaps more than a little frightening. After all, in the early 20th Century, the "scientific method" was all the rage and with the advent of the germ theory, folks were pretty confident that all the answers lay in science.

But this is the 21st Century and hopefully, we know better now. Spiritual healing has been proven to be a real and true alternative to conventional medicine. Harvard Medical School now offers courses on "spirituality and healing" and "Spiritual healing practices."

I suppose it was easy to take potshots at Mrs. Eddy's new religion in 1907 when so many in the media were ready to denigrate a woman for having the nerve and audacity to establish a healing system (and a church and an international religion) wholly independent of the patriarchal and male-dominated field of medicine.

And to show Twain's confusion over this, he also stated in THIS book:"She [Eddy] was the most interesting woman who ever lived and the most extraordinary...It is 1300 years since the world has produced anyone who could measure up to Mrs. Eddy's waistbelt." ... Read more

Product Description

The goal of Fraser's book is to track down andannihilate irrational fears in the religion of her childhood; herreason for doing so, however, exudes an undeniably spiritual grace:"Should we continue to pursue [these fears], our providences willsurely grow ever more remarkable." --Michael Joseph Gross ... Read more

Customer Reviews (102)

Science and Health
"God's Perfect Child" is a powerful expose of Christian Science. Christian Science Reading Rooms are ubiquitous downtown in cities, and they look inoffensive. They teach positive thinking, an inclusive view of Deity ("Father-Mother God"), they have male and female readers on Sundays... on the surface, it looks good. Beneath its sentimental exterior, there is a decrepit interior. Caroline Fraser goes in-depth about institutional crises after Mary Baker Eddy died, children who died from the lack of necessary medical care (from ailments such as cancer and meningitis), the appalling conditions of Christian Science nursing homes (such as Arden Wood in San Francisco), where nurses are reprimanded for feeding the elderly who cannot feed themselves. Fraser connects Christian Science with Scientology, as well as its more benevolent offshoots of Religious Science and Unity. She also connects it with the self-help movement of Marianne Williamson (The Gift of Change: Spiritual Guidance for Living Your Best Life),A Course in Miracles: Combined Volume,and Dr. Andrew Weil (Why Our Health Matters: A Vision of Medicine That Can Transform Our Future) She also tackles Mary Baker Eddy's abusive, controlling personality.

"God's Perfect Child" is an engrossing, powerful book. It's a perfect companion for Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (Authorized, Study Edition) Christian Science is an All-American take on Christianity, and this book is excellent.

A Harvard Graduate?
It is sad, yet predictable that a person whose career has never found success has played upon the hype and naivety of the general population. I would expect more from a person who possesses a PHD from an elite university; however, it should not come as a shock to most that this author published a book based on fallacies and sensationalism, seeing as she has never found respect in her own field of study (Literature).

If you believe all Muslim extremists, and those who bombed the US on 9/11, are representative of the Islamic tradition, then by all means buy this book, which similarly portrays a handful of extreme behavior as emblematic of the Christian Science religion.

Excellent book
Very well written, exhaustive study of Christian Science from it's inception as a strange little sect to the present "cult of respectability". After I read this book, I felt like I knew everyting I needed to know about this odd religion.

Factual and very well written.
As a child of a mother and grandmother who were rabid Christian Scientists and whoabused me with their denial of all my bad feelings (error), both physical and emotional, this book was of great interest to me.

I can attest that everything I read was fact, regarding CS beliefs and ways of "denying" sickness, pain and unpleasantness.This author obviously did her homework and knows of what she speaks.

For anyone in recovery from Christian Science or anyone who just wants the "facts", this is an excellent book.

In my opinion, this author was factual and possibly overly fair to this dangerous religious cult.

Also, in my opinion, Mary Baker was mentally ill, but highly charismatic, so was able to found a "religion" based on her personal (mentally ill) beliefs.

Not a typical CS experience
Christian Science is a religion that one must make their own. There are no rules about seeking medical attention or information as the author implies. Yes, the CS textbook is old. It was written in the 19th century with ideas pertinent to that era, but the ideas, the principles, are what is important in Christian Science. I lived a very happy and healthy Christian Science childhood. The experiences of extremists must not be used to color the perception of Christian Science or Christian Scientists in general. ... Read more

Product Description
Betrayed by their superiors and left for dead, the survivors of an elite commando team find themselves in Atlantis, a closed and highly advanced society. Will they fight alongside their hosts to stop the dark plans of an ancient Atlantean offshoot named Zentonia from triggering World War III, or could Atlantis' own Christian heritage, coupled with the threat the men see in its technology, divide them and even make them turn on each other? The first book of a gripping three-part tale! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Continuingthe C.S. Lewis Tradition
If you are a Star Wars fan or a fan of just good science fiction then Aaron Marshall's book is the book for you.I will not go into the plot line, the publisher has given a brief idea, as there are more important matters to discuss. Some may have a concern about the melding of science fiction with Christianity.However, at least two authors since the 1930s come to mind after a reading of this book.First there is C.S. Lewis whose space trilogy introduced me to Christianity as a school boy.Before long I was reading Lewis's deeper works on theology and in this genre' he was considered one of the most outstanding writers of the 20th Century.More recently we have Stephen Lawhead who has used science fiction, fantasy and legend to weave exciting tales with strong Christian overtones.Those aren't the only two and I name them as particular favorites of mine.I only leave out J. R. R. Tolkein as his specialty was fantasy, a specialty that C.S. Lewis also delved in with his Narnian series. You may ask "can't we just deliver a straight Christian message without using science fiction as a hook?"We can of course, but science fiction is fun for many of us and I know people who feel that just the reading of it opened their minds to deeper thoughts about Creation, Salvation and Heaven.That's why The Star Hunters is so much fun.It is a good old fashioned rip-roaring adventure, well crafted and one that the family can enjoy.We have two more in the series to look forward to and it is a series that demands a film or TV version to be produced. ... Read more

Product Description
Conveniently compiled published documents accurately reflect Christian Science beliefs and practices. The book contains basic facts about Christian Science, emphasizing its theology, and topics range from perspectives on the Bible to the practice of spiritual healing. ... Read more

Product Description
Blessings: Adventures of a Madcap Christian Scientist follows the author as she uses her understanding of the power of Good, God (Life, Truth,and Love), to overcome life's challenges. We follow the "Lucy Ricardo of Christian Scientists" as she climbs Mount Rainier, gets herself in a "bit of a fix" in the Grand Canyon, participates in an impromptu "peace summit" at Heathrow Airport, meets her husband, discovers the joys of motherhood, and finds her home." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Elevated
If you are a religious person and are looking for something to elevate your faith, read this book! If you are not a religious person and are looking for something to elevate your mood, read this book. A simple read covering a lot of situations everyone can relate to. I was amazed that one small book could hold such a massive voice. A voice that is familiar,inspiring and worth listening to!

Blessings: Adventures of a Madcap Christian Scientist
Excellent book!I read it and then had to order copies for friends and family.Whether you are a Christian Scientist or not, this is a fantastic read.

Ray of sunshine on Christian Science
Karen Terrell shares her warm and buoyant soul with us and lets us see Christian Science as a church with the love of God and brotherly love to spare. I'm a member of a different church but I bristle now if I hear someone call these people a cult or weirdos. They have their own individual opinions and some use doctors, just like any other group of people. It's a totally upbeat book about the life led by Mrs. Terrell, her husband and children and they're as well-grounded as any other American family. I enjoyed following her adventures. She's got a lot of courage.

Light-hearted book packs a powerful punch
First, I confess that prior to reading this book, I had run into the author on Amazon's discussion forums and was smitten by her genuinely effervescent and kind personality. When I heard she had written a book, I was excited to get my hands on it.

Terrell's gentle, humorous journal introduced Christian Science to me, and I read this while going through a particularly dark period in life. Her words flow easily over everyday situations while imbuing an underlying spirituality, all without a trace of condescension or arrogance - just awe and appreciation for life. Her alternating reference, probably reflecting the view of Christian Science, to God as either She or He, was acutely refreshing, as I've struggled with (among other things) Abrahamic religions' emphasis on maleness.

I connected with "Blessings" because the author effortlessly lets the reader into her world. She helped remind me of the vast diversity of spiritual experiences in our world when I was ready to give up on the idea.

a clear understanding
I have always appreciated the writings of Mary Baker Eddy.I have not always appreciated the writings of Christian Scientists.So often I have wondered if they have really read Science and Health.This book is written by a Christian Scientist who has a clear understanding and rich experience of Christian Science.It is a practice and we watch and share in her practice.Beautifully written with great heart and humor. ... Read more

Product Description
American writer, educator, theologian, and feminist pioneer EMMA CURTIS HOPKINS (1849-1925) may well be the most important woman in the history of religion in the United States. Influenced by Mary Baker Eddy and her "Christian Science," Hopkins developed the more metaphysical philosophy of New Thought, an early "New Age" outlook that encouraged its adherents to tap the latent powers of their potent minds. Known as "the teacher of teachers," Hopkins inspired her students, many of whom went on to become influential leaders of the New Thought movement, to give full expression to their creative genius.In this 1888 book, considered by many her masterpiece, Hopkins explores the wisdom of Jesus Christ from twelve different perspectives, all of which demonstrate, in their own unique ways, how we all hold within us the mystical energy to transform ourselves, our lives, and the world itself for the better, and to fill our hearts with the joy of the infinite.ALSO AVAILABLE FROM COSIMO: Hopkins' High Mysticism ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Scientific Christian Mental Practices
I have been a student of this book since 1987 and have found it to be one of the most valuable spiritual books I've even come across.I use this book daily and continue to learn from it.This is a must read for someone looking for lessons in practical Christianity.I give high praise to this book.There are many reasons it's been available to the public since 1890ish.

One of the most informative books I have read
I have been a student of Mind Sciences/metaphysics for nearly a decade now. I have always loved the works of Emmet Fox, Ernest Holmes, Joseph Murphy and the like. But then, I ordered this book on Kindle and discovered Emma Curtis Hopkins. This book is so rich in content that I have made a study of it, taking notes as I go. I think the thing I like most here is that Ms. Hopkins takes us back to the basics on new thought teaching, but also breaks everything down into an easy to understand format. She doesn't leave any guess work to the reader as to how to actually apply new thought teachings or healing practices. It's all laid out in plain language and explained in detail to the reader. The time I have spent with this book has brought my understanding and love of Mind Sciences to a new level.. It has also helped me reach new heights in my own healing work as I study to become a practitioner.. This is great stuff. Anyone interested in learning about Mind Sciences should read this book. It should be mandatory reading for any metaphysician.

Great insights
Wonderful information but pretty heavy reading. I found it difficult to grasp some of the information.
She was clearly a woman before her time.

Excellent read, informative
I recommended this book to my daughter.This book was very informative in instructional practices of scientific prayer, manifestations.When I thought about the experiences in my life, I realized that I had used some form of scientific mental practices to create what has happened in my life.It does not violate any religious practices, rather enhances and aligns one to the promises made by any religion.

Prefer Ernest Holmes
Not for me, contains more religious undertones and supplication mindset than I care for, however she was one of the few on the forefront of the New Thought movement.I read it once and haven't picked it up since.I prefer Enrest Holmes books, which I read over and over. ... Read more

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Christian Science Re-Explored Margaret Laird C.S.B. ... Read more

Product Description
1907. In this book, my purpose has been to present a character portrait of Mrs. Eddy, drawn from her own acts and words solely, not from hearsay and rumor; and to explain the nature an scope of her Monarchy, as revealed in the laws by which she governs it, and which she wrote herself. ... Read more

Product Description
Provides Student Activities with marginal notes and answer overprints. Grade 7. ... Read more

Product Description
In Christian Science on Trial, historian Rennie B. Schoepflin showshow Christian Science healing became a viable alternative to medicine at the end of thenineteenth century. Christian Scientists did not simply evangelize for their religious beliefs; theyengaged in a healing business that offered a therapeutic alternative to many patients for whommedicine had proven unsatisfactory. Tracing the evolution of Christian Science during the latenineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Christian Science on Trial illuminates themovement's struggle for existence against the efforts of organized American medicine to curtailits activities.

Physicians exhibited an anxiety and tenacity to trivialize and control Christian Scientists whichindicates a lack of confidence among the turn-of-the-century medical profession about whocontrolled American health care. The limited authority of the medical community becomes evenclearer through Schoepflin's examination of the pitched battles fought by physicians andChristian Scientists in America's courtrooms and legislative halls over the legality of ChristianScience healing. While the issues of medical licensing, the meaning of medical practice, and thesupposed right of Americans to therapeutic choice dominated early debates, later confrontationssaw the legal issues shift to matters of contagious disease, public safety, and children's rights.Throughout, Christian Scientists revealed their ambiguous status as medical practitioners andreligious healers.

The 1920s witnessed an unsteady truce between American medicine and Christian Science. Theambivalence of many Americans about the practice of religious healing persisted, however. InChristian Science on Trial we gain a helpful historical context for understandinglate–twentieth-century public debates over children's rights, parental responsibility, and theauthority of modern medicine. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Reality of Christian Science in the Real World
I have been class taught in Christian Science and left the cult to practice true Christianity.I read many, many books on the history and teachings of Christian Science.This is the first book that clearly explains the history of medicine and how the time was ripe for Eddy to be successful.The book deals with some doctrines and history of Eddy. I think it is important to read for example "God's Perfect Child" by Caroline Frazer first to get a solid background of Eddy, her teachings and the history of Christian Science.

I have wondered for a long time why Eddy florished and what the early conflicts between medicine and Christian Science (faith healing, New Thought)were. Rennie Schoepflin includes a lot of fresh material and clearly explains the so called "healing" practices of Christian Science Practitioners.

To my knowledge this is the only book available that deals with this subject. Christian Science on Trial is well written, and not another biography of Eddy and Christian Science. The author documents court cases that I have not read elsewhere.

If you read only one book about Eddy this is destined to be a classic. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Some good things, mostly bad
This book was used in my daughter's 7th graded science class, along with a secular text book. I was impressed at how well the authors were able to show that the glory of God can be seen throughout creation. They present this message in a way that can be understood by 7th graders, and capture their interest. But be warned: this is a "Young Earth Creationist" textbook. In a single read through the book, I found about 20 instances where the authors blatantly distorted or misrepresented scientific information in order to make it fit their young-earth agenda. But most of the book's problems are errors of omission, rather than commission. (For example, the book totally overlooks the evidence for an expanding universe--possibly the greatest scientific discovery of all time!) Consequently, balancing this book with a more secular book makes a reasonable combination.

Years of Use
I used this textbook for 3 of my 4 children and I plan to use it for my 4th child when he reaches the 8th grade.One thing I really like about this book, is that the reading level is age appropiate. So many homeschool books are either to simplistic or too difficult for the recommended grade level. BJU books are right on target! The information is broken into neat, easily scheculed sections, and the review questions at the end of each unit help the student to remember what they've learned. This was one of the best books we've used over the years.

Earth Science for Christian Schools
This is an excellent Earth Science text book. It covers a wide variety of topics such as astronomy, geology, and meteorology. The activities manual designed to be used with this text has great ideas and investigations that appeal to Junior High School students.This book is well thought out andwritten from the Creationist's point of view. ... Read more

Product Description
test bank for science 4. ... Read more

Product Description
1898. A selection of hymns that is believed to be representative of the best religious and poetic thought in hymnology, including a number of excellent compositions by Christian scientists. An effort was made in the musical department to present a useful and varied collection of tunes, the purpose being to appeal to every lover of church music, of whatever taste or ability. Five of the hymns were written by the Reverend Mary Baker Eddy, discoverer and founder of Christian Science. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Healing
This small book has many times been the portal to healing, both of illness suggesting itself and upset thinking.

It is hard to stay sick or upset when reading the lyrics to songs written by God-inspired writers!

And the book fits nicely in pocket, bag or backpack.Sometimes it only takes one hymn -- or just a verse or line -- and the healing is accomplished.

Sun~Rose

inspiring - whether reading or singing!
I'm not much of a musician but I do like to sing. And I love to read. Many times, I've sat down with this hymnal and simply *read* the lyrics and have found them to be deep reservoirs of inspiration and spiritual insights.

Yeah, the hymns are old and they're from the Victorian era and the lyrics are clearly reminiscent of that time, but they're still beautiful and touching. For instance, there was someone in my life that I felt I had every reason to hate, but being a Christian, I knew that hating any of God's children was wrong and was not part of God's plan for my life.

One of my favorite hymns in this book reads,

"Speak gently to the erring ones,
they must have toiled in vain;
Perhaps unkindness made them so,
Oh win them back again."

That simple sentiment has helped me release the animous and contempt I feel toward this person and reminds me to pray for her each day and ask God to send her nothing but blessings.

I highly recommend this hymnal.

Want a quick hit of inspiration?
I'm not much of a musician but I do like to sing. And I love to read. Many times, I've sat down with this hymnal and simply *read* the lyrics and have found them to be deep reservoirs of inspiration and spiritual insights.

Yeah, the hymns are old and they're from the Victorian era and the lyrics are clearly reminiscent of that time, but they're still beautiful and touching. For instance, there was someone in my life that I felt I had every reason to hate, but being a Christian, I knew that hating any of God's children was wrong and was not part of God's plan for my life.

One of my favorite hymns in this book reads,

"Speak gently to the erring ones,
they must have toiled in vain;
Perhaps unkindness made them so,
Oh win them back again."

That simple sentiment has helped me release the animous and contempt I feel toward this person and reminds me to pray for her each day and ask God to send her nothing but blessings.

I highly recommend this hymnal.

Inspirational Lirics
I have owned several copies of the Hymnal, and keep giving them away and buying a new one. I love the lyrics and find them inspirational at all times, and especially in times of trouble.Hightly recommended. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Ignobel prize unlikely...
One would tend to think that, by now, every subject of intellectual or cultural appeal would have already been fully deconstructed (or otherwise posmodernized) given the academic supranimerary of English Studies faculty with nothing better to do.If I had to pick a subject obscure enough to have escaped the onslaught up till the end of last century I might have ventured: 'Pataphysics, an intellectual peral whose creation we owe to the unique and tragic genius of Alfred Jarry.But even this unlikely target seems to have now fallen under the pomo scalpel if one is to blame Christian Bok's recent "'Pataphysics: the poetics of an imaginary science".

Finding himself a letter short of a book, Bok opted to write an"obfuscule", i.e., a statement to his own misaprehension andmisappropriation of his subject. These start appropriately with the title. Presumably because it concerns itself with the search for imaginary solutions, 'pataphysics becomes "an imaginary science"! By the same token the Chemistry of aqueous solutions would surely become an "underwater science" or the Psychology of Serial Killers a ... "a murderous science"! In fact, 'Pataphysics is not A science, real, symbolic or imaginary much less the pseudo-science that Bok keeps harping but, as Jarry forcefully underscored, 'Pataphysics IS Science!

The remainder of the book belabours the presumption that 'Pataphysics represents a stage in some secular clash between Poetry and Science (read Good vs Evil) without offering any kind of evidence for the existence of such confrontation, not to speak of why 'Pataphysics would be called into the fray! Bok regards this downturn as a remedy to the avowed disengagement of 'Pataphysics which does not apparently square with his own militant anti-science agenda. Thus he vows to outjarry Jarry by making him a born-again Nietzschiean and liberating the little Derrida inside him (as if Ubu was not enoUgh)! Though he calls his work "a survey" he is quick to veer of his purpose under the ridiculous pretext of "avoiding the normalization(?) of patahphysics" ... "by alluding intermittently to 'pataphysical enterprises' that do not refer to the tradition of Jarry but nevertheless represent some of the exceptions to the genealogy that this survey posits."And, immediately following, he takes exception to his own anti-normalizing scruple by offering a classification of the exceptions found in the lore of pataphysics --- not questioning, of course, whether once classified under his rule these remain exceptions!But even his translation of the pataphysical bon-mots betrays Bok's distorting agenda: sizygy becomes 'alliance' as opposed to the confluence it has expressed since the greeks, clinamen is 'deviance' rather than the simply 'deviation' to better echo the 'transgressive' postures that the post-modernist must fashion him self to assume. Soon enough the Deleuzian deleuzions, the Althusserian trussles, and the Baudrillardian inbroglios raise their wrongheadeness overshadowing any other pretense to "survey" Jarry or his 'pataphysical descendance. Bok gives hardly more than a page to the College de 'Pataphysique (most of it invoking Samuel Butler!), which he calls and 'absurd school' and equally short shrifts Queneau, Torma, Daumal, Arnaud, Duchamp and Shattuck (all very interesting individuals on their own.). who animated it before its self-occultation in 1972 He never mentions Vian, Satie, Salvador, Miro, Dubuffet, Ionesco, Marx (Groucho, of course), Clair or Prevert: all Satrapes of Highest Munificense in the 'Pataphysical Pantheon. He ignores the contributions of such classical american 'pataphysicians asGelett Burgess, Walter Arenberg, Tex Avery or Frank Zappaor current ones like Bill Griffith, Peter Shickele, Mark Leyner or Karen Mantler.Instead he picks three 'case studies' of 'pataphysical influence which he insists in parochializing as Italian Futurism, French Oulipism and Canadian Jarryism.Needless to say these excursions are hampered by Bok's peculiar myopia andthus remain perfunctory and unfair to the movements and individuals he sets to describe in all respects, including their different 'pataphysical inspirations. Aware of Bok's credentials as an expert in recent Canadian literature I was hopeful of gaining someenlightenment about the late "Four Horsemen" and their intensive experiments in sound poetry, in comics and VoIdeo or the unique work of the intriguing Christopher Dewdney, to which Bok dedicated a number of articles. What Bok delivers is some unsufferably pedantic description of anecdotical exploits wrapped in some diatribe against the poetic promoters of canadian nationalism, a subject which only becomes 'pataphysical malgre' soi, much as Bok's own language does at its worst. Here is a typical gem [p.15]: "Science graphs a rhizomatic flowchart, an agonistic force field of diversified catastrophies, some which collide with each other, some which collude with each other, all of which operate together simultaneously in fits and starts as asynchronous rates of incommensurate change". The only thing conveyed by such bouts of verborrhea is that Bok takes 'pataphysics to be something like and extension of his poetic license to sokalize his mixed metaphores well beyond the merely silly into the much netherer reaches of the truly idiotic (or "ideotimistic" as he no doubt would call it)! All he manages, finally, is to become the joke he does not get.Ah Ha!

For all the talk of parody and irony, the single remarkable thing about Bok's prose is how entirely destitute it remains of humour, wit and charm --- the recognizable signposts of the 'pataphysical, as of the scientific and the poetic at their very best!If is is any indication of what his poetry may be like, I am sure to never find out and that may be the one devisable merit of this essay. For anyone truly interested in 'Pataphysics I urge the Fayard 2000 edition of "Les Tres Riches Heures du College de Pataphysique" which you can get from Amazon France or, in the english speaking world, the Atlas Press publications of the Institutum PataphysicumLondoniense. ... Read more

Product Description
This comprehensively researched history of the development of military ­ministry within the Christian Science movement from 1917 through 2004 was ten years in the making.It records over eighty years of insight into the hearts and lives of individuals positioned to bring their understanding of the protecting power and love of God into military circumstances, with challenges of conflict, danger, prejudice and life-threatening situations, as well as joys of reformation, healing and interfaith fellowship.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

good historical review
in this one can skip around to see specific people or places or events or can read through. It does not tell it all, for some chaplains there are wonderful examples of good done on the job. For others it seemed just straight history or fact, no stories but basically a good documentary of as it was till 2004. ... Read more

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This book provides an insider's perspective on what the daily life of a Christian in the natural sciences is like--both the opportunities and the challenges, , including the hard questions Christians face about divided loyalties, personal conflicts, and loneliness. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

God & Science
I enjoy this book because it helps to explain the relationship between studying science and worshiping God.I have been learning that science and God can be mixed because He made many systems, from the biological structure to the unseen, and the use of them in the career path of science majors and scientists.Therefore, this book can be useful in helping to understand the purpose and study of science as a career. ... Read more

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Science has long treated religion as a set of personal beliefs that have little to do with a rational understanding of the mind and the universe. However, B. Alan Wallace, a respected Buddhist scholar, proposes that the contemplative methodologies of Buddhism and of Western science are capable of being integrated into a single discipline: contemplative science.

The science of consciousness introduces first-person methods of investigating the mind through Buddhist contemplative techniques, such assamatha, an organized, detailed system of training the attention. Just as scientists make observations and conduct experiments with the aid of technology, contemplatives have long tested their own theories with the help of highly developed meditative skills of observation and experimentation. Contemplative science allows for a deeper knowledge of mental phenomena, including a wide range of states of consciousness, and its emphasis on strict mental discipline counteracts the effects of conative (intention and desire), attentional, cognitive, and affective imbalances.

Just as behaviorism, psychology, and neuroscience have all shed light on the cognitive processes that enable us to survive and flourish, contemplative science offers a groundbreaking perspective for expanding our capacity to realize genuine well-being. It also forges a link between the material world and the realm of the subconscious that transcends the traditional science-based understanding of the self.

Customer Reviews (8)

Tough going, but worth the effort
This is the fifth Alan Wallace book that I have purchased, the fourth that I have finished reading.This one is more detailed than the others.Alan presents justification for a science of meditation.Then he presents some observations by skilled Buddhist practitioners as seed areas for initial investigation using skilled meditation practitioners in this new proposed contemplative science.

Buddhists don't talk about their personal progress, so it is difficult for an interested observer to see details of their path.This book contains the clearest explanation and illustration of what it is like to be at various stages of the path towards enlightenment that I've seen anywhere.

I especially like the notes section which gives extensive references.It is surprising just how many of the references that Dr Wallace uses are to his own books and his original translations.

I would not recommend this book for those interested in an introduction to contemplation.It is an excellent reference work and ties together many thoughts that are only hinted at in introductory works.

Disclaimer:I am an interested observer of Buddhism and follow several different meditative practices.I attended a one week Samatha retreat presented by Alan Wallace several years ago.

A Well-Intentioned (But Inadequate) Effort
B. Alan Wallace seems to be an ideal candidate to write books on the theme of "contemplative science", having training in both Tibetan buddhism and physics for many years. His familiarity with standard Mahayana Buddhist doctrines is evident throughout his writings, which is a plus when trying to integrate Buddhism into modern science, which he is trying to do. In this sense, Wallace's writings can be seen as extensions of the Dalai Lama's excursions into science.
However, as I mentioned in my review of the Dalai Lama's efforts to "converge" Buddhism with modern science, the marriage, so to speak, has more problems than is evident in this style of writing. Yeah? Like what?, the true devotee asks...

Wallace, of course, views much of modern science as "externally" focused, with too much attention placed on the physical universe and not enough on inner, "subjective" experience, especially as accumulated over thousands of years in the great religious traditions (certainly understandable, for a devout Buddhist...).Accordingly, Wallace decries what he sees as the mental aspect being relegated to secondary status, as a mere epiphenomenon of the material world. Wallace hence is suspicious of modern theories of complexity being adequate in explaining the mental side of humans. His own ideas on consciousness seem to be based much on ideas of the great early American psychologist William James, as well as on current "hard-problem" observations by David Chalmers and others. What Wallace comes up with as a basic ontology, then, is that consciousness is actually primary in our physical universe and we need to shift our thinking (I hate to use the New-Age term "paradigm shift", so I won't. You did NOT just see that phrase here).

Consciousness is, of course, a difficult subject for everyone. Physicists are trying to get it out of pure quantum mechanics, neurophysiologists are trying to determine a physical basis for it, Whiteheadians posit it must be fundamental (as Wallace does), Chalmers himself wants a physical description that goes beyond merely functional descriptions, etc. etc.So everybody has problems with consciousness. Wallace has training as a physicist, but he glosses over the problems in injecting consciousness into quantum mechanics as he tries to do. The vast majority of physicists do NOT see consciousness (human or otherwise) as important in quantum mechanics, despite some popular efforts to make it important. The word "observation" has been long misused and misunderstood in this area, and this isn't the place to rehash the sloppy use of such words. In this respect, Wallace does the reader no favor, offering as he does a viewpoint that is on the "fringe" area of orthodox physics.And he does the research of neuroscience no real favor, either- rather casually linking metaphysical buzzwords with current neuroscience buzzwords, as if we are now on friendly "converging" grounds. Neuroscience itself, alas, has hardly been successful (as of yet) capturing the rich inner world of subjective human experiences, and while foreign philosophical concepts (such as Buddhist doctrines) may provide some fresh exploration, the speculative nature of the "parallels" should be admitted up front. But a candid admission of speculation usually doesn't happen, as an author tries to build his/her own agenda. The problem is, the more that scientific terms are presented in the same context as purely metaphysical concepts, the more likely the speculative nature of the discussion will be obscured.

Buddhism itself is problematic in regards to empirical science, despite what many "convergers" (hey! a new word I just coined, don't be stealing it) have described. I have briefly commented on some of the problems in another review and won't go over that now. Here, I would like to briefly comment on the so-called "no-self" (anatta) doctrine, which asserts that there is no such thing as a permanent ego-self.In other words, your human personality is a makeshift construction that is being replaced moment-by-moment and has no real substance. We can all agree that the topic of what the "self" really consists of is another difficult topic, but it is questionable whether the Buddhists got this right or not. Some scientists and philosophers have indeed found Buddhist ideas of the "no-self" congenial to their understanding, but many others have not. Common sense certainly seems to throw some doubt on the doctrine that your personality has no real "core". Just think back to your early childhood- honesty will tell you that you indeed have a continuous personality from square one, which seems rather mysterious if we grant the Buddhists are correct that we are looking at something that is fundamentally illusory. That just doesn't seem to jive with personal experience, if one is honest with oneself.
Moreover, just what is it that keeps interfering with the bliss of "no-self", so that practitioners always need to keep fighting against the tendency to lapse back into reacting from an illusory "I"?Forgive this heresy, Buddhist devotees, but could it possibly be there **IS** a real self (a real personality) after all, and all these attempts to minimize it on a constant day-to-day basis perhaps are little more than going against the grain of an actual psychological reality? Yes, I know this crazy thought goes against what everybody learned from their Buddhist teachers :-). But didn't Shakyamuni himself supposedly caution folks to examine the doctrines personally? Have YOU done so, Amazonian? (I like that term, it sounds like a jungle warrior instead of some nerdy bookworm, too bad it's the latter).

At any rate, simple observation of the animal kingdom seems to throw *some* doubt on the "no-self" doctrine, at least as a moment-by-moment construction phenomenon. Looking at animals for some clues is instructive simply because there is no human bias or dogmas (ha! get it? dog-mas) involved. Simply put, animals ALSO seem to show signs of having continual individual personalities, which is rather odd if the "no-self" doctrine were an assured psychological (neurological?) truth. (Pet-owners and zoo-keepers can no doubt vouch for the truth of animal personalities). And this observation gives us a clue for what I respectfully propose as a *better* interpretation of the "no-self" teaching:instead of looking at the "self" as a moment-by-moment event of makeshift construction, maybe devout Buddhist fans would be better off viewing "no-self" in a broader sense, merely as the impermanence of all biological organisms- i.e., the lack of permanent existence for an individual's biological life in general. Yes, contrary to orthodox Buddhist interpretations, individuals DO have continual personalites, as even common sense shows, but people just don't live forever :-). This suggestion at least has the virtue of not offending either science or common sense; I offer it as a possibility, worth what it cost you- (i.e., free). Observing animals also seems to call into question, BTW, some common doctrinal assumptions such as an "ego-self" supposedly occuring because of "our deluded perception". But is it accurate to assign the blame to faulty perceptions? Can someone explain why even animals, since they obviously act from a sense of self-interest, have erroneous perceptions of a "self" and turn out (according to this view) to be "deluded"? This is remarkable...apparently humans aren't the only critters who have a faulty perception of the world- animals are just as guilty! I guess mere self-preservation instincts and everyday self-referential behaviors in the animal kingdom qualify as "delusions of self".How unfortunate, then, that animals haven't had Buddhist teaching to set them straight. Maybe Buddhists need to start preaching to animals- and good luck getting your goldfish to listen.

A much simpler explanation is that basic reactions of self-preservation and self-interest simply are part of millions of years of biological evolution, and humans aren't the only critters who act and react in terms of "self".All biological creatures do.It isn't a matter of "self-delusion", it's simply a brute reality of competitive evolutionary self-preservation :-). It seems to me, anyway, we'd all be better off acknowledging our obvious biological tendencies (which doesn't mean we need to be controlled by them), instead of labeling these "self-delusion" and hoping they are merely mental mis-perceptions we can train ourselves to eventually discard.It's hard to get anywhere relegating fairly obvious realities to imaginary "phantoms"! And, sadly, the day when these (supposed) self-delusions are finally discarded never seems to actually arrive-you'd think devotees would start to question some of these maxims when the success rate, for everybody (including our author Wallace), is 0% :-). Folks - both lay and professional - seem to tie themselves into knots concocting elaborate theories about human psychology, often to the horror of their simple common sense...only to end up up with a lot of "sound and fury", as our British muse Billy Shakespeare reminds us, "signifying nothing".
Until neuroscience/clinical-psychology can actually come up with some solid empirical data on HOW one's rich, subjective individual inner life (including so-called "qualia") occurs and functions as it does (and there's no reason to suppose science won't eventually tap into purely subjective phenomena) - we're all guessing...Buddhists included.

At any rate, here's another observation for Amazonians: what is responsible for the following phenomenon: if you stomped on the foot of the most "enlightened" Buddhist around, for example, despite their insistence there is no self, you will probably hear evidence of a "self" instantly. [It's a traditional Zen koan, anyway-if there is no "self", just what is it that is in pain?].
I mention this example not as a deep Zen exercise, however, but merely to point out that these lofty Buddhist doctrines of "emptiness", "no-self", "everything is buddha-nature", etc. can easily become mere rhetoric, even with long-time devotees. It's truly difficult - in spite of the buzz people spout - to eliminate a personal reaction to events...especially events which tend to rain on our own personal parade - such as the bad driver in front of us, or someone saying something negative to us...These moments, when negative events provoke our knee-jerk reactions, as they invariably do, can be very instructive as a revelation of our "real" personality, hidden behind our outward social masks and perhaps our spiritual posturing :-).
Naturally, these instantaneous self-reactions are not any "scientific" observations supporting the concept of a "personal self", nor are they any indication the no-self doctrines themselves are "wrong", per se, but they ARE instructive as to how platitudes such as "no-self" can easily turn into mere verbiage...good only when circumstances are peachy :-).
But then again- you have no "person"...so why are you reacting at all?

Let me end here with the observation that many Buddhists seem to be looking at subjective experiences of personal self-awareness "dissolving" in mystical experiences, and elevating these to questionable ontological assertions. Myriads of subjective experiences are human events across all cultures, and indeed, I've experienced some myself. But this kind of thing is hardly any empirical "proof" for a "no-self", much less an ontological "proof", and shouldn't be used to assert any kind of assured ontological certainty.

A very informative read.
B. Alan Wallace is a leading scholar and author on this subject.His way of writing in simple language about complicated concepts makes for very informative and fascinating reading.His insights can bring about a major shift in our perception of the relationship between science and spirituality.

good place to start
dr wallace is a sophisticated scientist who is very experienced in talking about the details of buddhism.he understands the thousands of years of studying the mind from a buddhist perspectice and how to integrate it with modern science.he has the input of the dalai lama too, having been a translator for him for years.i encourage the serious reader to take a look.

Contemplative Science
good shape copy of a good readable book.arrived quickly
would have preferred paperback but was ok. ... Read more