Stop in quiet places

All spiritual sojourners occasionally need to get off the busy thoroughfare of human life in order to connect or reconnect with their spiritual source. On your lunch hour, on a business trip, or after a busy workday—a Christian Science Reading Room is a quiet haven where you can quietly commune with God.

The first Christian Science Reading Room opened in Boston in 1888. At that time, it was the custom for publishing companies to host public rooms where their products could be browsed and read for free. Back then, the term "Reading Room" was part of the everyday language.

A By-Law of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts requires that each church of the Christian Science denomination establish a Reading Room. (Article XXI. Section 1). Reading Rooms, however, are not for the exclusive use of Christian Scientists. They exist for all spiritual travellers.

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Most Christian Science Reading Rooms consist of a front sales area staffed by a librarian. A wide assortment of Christian Science literature published or authorized by The Christian Science Publishing Society is offered for sale, including the complete writings of Mary Baker Eddy and the Church periodicals.

However there is absolutely no pressure to buy anything in a Christian Science Reading Room! As Annie Knott, a dedicated Christian Scientist wrote in 1910, "it is desirable that inquirers should have opportunity to investigate these teachings first hand and many who are not ready to purchase the literature are glad to read it in order to discover whether it has a promise of practical help in their hours of need."

Each Christian Science Reading Room is equipped with a simply furnished reading/study area where visitors are welcome to freely peruse, read, or study Christian Science literature—or perhaps just quietly pray.

Many Christian Science Reading Rooms also offer for free use an excellent array of Biblical reference books—multiple translations of the Bible, atlases, dictionaries, concordances, commentaries, and so on

Last but not least, the staff librarians are happy to answer any questions you might have about Christian Science. And rest assured, whatever your spiritual viewpoint, it will be respected. No pressure will be exerted on you to "convert" to Christian Science.

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Unlike the secluded spiritual stopping places in the Bible— mountaintops, wildernesses, gardens—Christian Science Reading Rooms are found in central, accessible locations worldwide. They can usually be located through the local telephone directory under "Christian Science".

You can also find a Christian Science Reading Room near you by clicking here.

© 2004 Christian Science in Ontario, Canada