Are you aware of other long-time practitioners who have rather suddenly left the practice and taken a 180, so to speak?
No. I know that some dropped out suddenly but I never heard any explanations, certainly not as much as I'm willing to divulge.
Among your former colleagues in the healing work, were there ever discussions of discouragement, disillusionment, etc.?
No. It's considered "unscientific" to be negative or doubtful about the theology and institutions based on it. I'm sure there are doubts in a few, but they are kept on the QT, just as mine were for the last few years of my affiliation. Some of them will "stray" and teach heretical ideas and then eventually get kicked out. My "180" came about a degree at a time and as the result of much thought and wider reading.
Most of the "career" practitioners I know seem to genuinely think they've answered a high calling and have spent their lives in a very productive way.
That accounts for 25 or so years of my career. But being convinced of something - even for a long time - doesn't make one right. Fortunately, I lived long enough to break the spell.
The biographies of Mary Baker Eddy record healings that, if true, would impress just about anyone. Do you believe these accounts are fabricated or exaggerated?
Fabricated and exaggerated out of ignorance or unscientific analysis. I don't see how we can take seriously accounts written over 130 years ago in an era of crude science and testing. And even today, there are no credible research studies involving double-blind techniques that confirm that prayer is effective in healing. As I offered initially, if such evidence were available, there would be a huge spiritual healing industry. There isn't, and there isn't.
1 comment:
Wow, this is amazing and really interesting. It looks like I'll have to continue reading older posts! :) Right on!
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