Navigating the world of diets and nutritional advice can be confusing. This article explores Christian Science perspectives on diet, drawing upon biblical principles and the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science. It aims to provide insights into how individuals practicing Christian Science approach food and nourishment, considering both physical and spiritual well-being.
Core Principles
Christian Science emphasizes a spiritual approach to health and well-being, with a focus on the power of prayer and spiritual understanding. When it comes to diet, Christian Scientists are given no specific dietary requirements, but strive to follow Jesus' words, "…take no thought, saying 'What shall we eat?' 'What shall we drink?…'" (Matthew 6:31). This suggests a focus on balance and temperance rather than strict rules.
Reliance on Divine Nourishment
At the heart of Christian Science is the belief that true nourishment comes from God, Spirit. Divine Truth and Love nurture man, whose actual being is spiritual, the image and likeness of God. The nourishment comes from God, Spirit. Divine Truth and Love nurture man, whose actual being is spiritual, the image and likeness of God. This perspective encourages individuals to look beyond material sources for sustenance, recognizing that spiritual qualities like strength, vitality, and health are imparted by God.
Balance and Temperance
While there are no rigid dietary rules, the concept of balance and temperance is significant. Christian Scientists strive for moderation in all aspects of life, including diet. There is always the thought of balance and temperance, but there is no belief that food has power in itself to cure. This suggests a need to avoid extremes and to cultivate a balanced approach to eating.
Practical Implications
Given the emphasis on spiritual nourishment and the absence of strict regulations, how do Christian Scientists approach daily food choices?
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Seeking Wisdom and Understanding
Christian Scientists are encouraged to seek wisdom and understanding about food, not to obsess, but to be intentional in honoring the body God gave us. Proverbs 4:7 says, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom.” When we take time to understand how food affects our health, hormones, energy, and even our mood, we’re honoring the body God gave us. It’s not about obsessing-it’s about being intentional so we can show up strong for what He’s called us to do. This includes learning about how food affects health, energy levels, and mood.
Avoiding Food Idolatry
Christian Scientists are encouraged to turn away from food idolatry, body idolatry, eating disorders, body dysmorphic disorders, and any unbalanced or unhealthy eating. This involves rejecting the idea that food or body image should become the primary focus of one's life.
Reframing Cravings
Our bodies crave what we repeatedly feed them. If we constantly give them sugar, processed foods, and man-made snacks, they’ll keep asking for more. Why? But here’s the good news: you can retrain your body and mind. The more you fill up on whole, God-given foods-like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, healthy fats, and plenty of water-the less room you’ll have for the cravings. And don’t forget-this isn’t just physical, it’s spiritual too. This is about progress, not perfection.
Replacing Man-Made Foods with God-Made Upgrades
One practical step is to replace man-made foods with God-made upgrades. Seed oils: Canola, soybean, corn, cottonseed, sunflower, safflower, grapeseed, and rice bran oil are all man-made, highly processed oils. This involves choosing whole, natural foods over processed and artificial options.
Recognizing Food's Purpose
Fruits, vegetables, clean meats-these are all from God. God designed food for our good. Fruits, vegetables, clean meats-these are all from God. Recognizing that food is a gift from God can foster gratitude and mindful consumption.
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Addressing Common Questions
- Is meat okay to eat? Yes. God gave it to us. Genesis 9:3 (NIV)“Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you.
- What if I don’t want to count calories? You don’t have to become a nutrition expert-but learning about food is part of wise stewardship.
- What if I mess up? God’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23).
The Harvard Study: An Intriguing Perspective
A Harvard Medical School study explored the health practices of Christian Scientists, revealing "intriguing health benefits." The study found that Christian Scientists:
- Use far more spiritual healing.
- Are far, far more likely to be satisfied with their lives.
- Report fewer illnesses than non-Christian Scientists.
The study suggests a potential link between mind/body healing, including spiritual approaches, and overall health.
Overcoming Overeating: A Personal Journey
One individual shared their experience of overcoming overeating through Christian Science. They realized the need to demonstrate Christliness, not selfishness, and to express completeness and satisfaction. This involved:
- Recognizing the illusion of sensual pleasure in overeating.
- Understanding that true satisfaction comes from seeking God's kingdom first.
- Denying the mistaken mortal sense of self.
- Seeing self-control as a way of freedom and joyous self-knowledge.
Ethical Eating: A Broader Perspective
Ethical eating involves considering the broader implications of food choices, including sustainability, justice, and relationships with God, self, community, others, and the environment. Transforming food systems for health, sustainability, and justice will require advocacy work, agricultural innovation, and social movements, all of which require ethical thinking about food and where it comes from.
Loving Relationships
- With God: Acknowledge dependence on God's provision, express gratitude, and balance feasting and fasting.
- With Self: Recognize the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit, avoid unhealthy diets, and address mental health concerns.
- With Community: Support local food systems, promote ethical food practices, and resist unjust power imbalances.
- With Others: Ensure fair labor conditions, promote international trade justice, and support access to fresh food.
- With the Environment: Promote sustainable agriculture, conserve biodiversity, and reduce pollution.
Biblical Dietary Laws: A Historical Context
The Old Testament contains dietary laws distinguishing between clean and unclean animals. These laws, found in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, were part of God’s plan to set the nation of Israel apart for a special purpose. Perceptive scholars have recognized that these laws express God’s will and represent wise, reasonable, and beneficial measures revealing “God’s care for the health of His people.”1 Sadly, most people today-including theologians-have little or no understanding of the sound medical reasons behind God’s instructions, because the scientific wisdom behind the biblical dietary laws is seldom taught or explained.
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Clean and Unclean Animals
- Clean Animals: Plant-eating mammals with divided hooves and that chew the cud (e.g., cattle, sheep, goats, deer).
- Unclean Animals: Carnivorous animals, pigs, rabbits, rodents, bats, monkeys.
Aquatic Creatures
- Clean Fish: Fish with fins and scales that swim freely.
- Unclean Fish: Bottom-dwellers, predatory scavengers, shellfish.
Birds, Insects, and Reptiles
- Unclean Fowl: Birds of prey and scavengers.
- Insects: Only locusts and grasshoppers are permissible.
- Reptiles: Generally considered unfit for human food.
Blood
The consumption of blood is forbidden.