Books Archives


Imperfect child: My debt to Caroline Fraser

Friday, November 18th, 2022

“I alone have escaped to tell you.” This is the refrain, three times in the first chapter of the Book of Job, when wide-eyed survivors bring the old man ever-grimmer reports from the scene of tragedy. It has become a life verse for me since escaping Christian Science. (more…)

When Barbara’s world collapsed

Monday, July 4th, 2022

Individuals who leave Christian Science tend to arrive, after some wandering, either at a commitment to the biblical Christianity from which CS originally departed or—more often, sadly—at an atheistic, agnostic, or self-generated spirituality that blithely disavows God. My heart goes out to these “nones,” as sociologists call them. (more…)

‘Lovest thou me more than these?’

Friday, September 3rd, 2021

Do you love God? Do you love Jesus? Do you love the Bible? Do you love the Church? Ask these questions of any Christian Scientist, and he will almost certainly answer yes. (more…)

It all starts with ‘true truth’

Wednesday, April 14th, 2021

The great Francis Schaeffer coined the term “true truth” to describe that which simply is, always has been, and always will be, whether we like it or not. What a contrast to CS with its variable truth, simultaneously connoting one thing AND its opposite, depending how one looks at it. (more…)

New book: ‘Discovering a Larger God’

Monday, March 1st, 2021

Raised in Christian Science, I experienced a crisis in my thirties when it became clear Mrs. Eddy’s God was not big enough for the desperation engulfing me.  Her deity was too small to look upon my ugly sinfulness and love me anyway. (more…)

What converts can teach us

Monday, October 12th, 2020

As a convert of Jesus and as someone who seeks to make converts, I have begun reading the four gospels and the book of Acts as a marvelous collection of conversion stories. Think about it. Eleven of the apostles were converts, like the Magi before them. (more…)

‘Write the vision, make it plain’

Thursday, October 8th, 2020

Often in our Christian walk, we catch a glimpse of a vision that gives us hope that we can impact others in some meaningful way. In the moment, we rarely have a clue how our vision will ever become reality. But the vision eventually does become our reality as we aim to accomplish it; it becomes a piece of our story.  So it has been for me in publishing my first book, Leaving Christian Science.
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Escapees tell their story

Tuesday, September 29th, 2020

“This isn’t working. I’ve been misled, harmed, ill served. I want out. I need to find a better way of life.” Such are the thoughts of someone feeling trapped in an unhealthy belief system or subculture.

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How Christmas undid me

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

Christmas is beloved to me a season of new birth personally, as well as a celebration of Jesus’ birth. Over the years as a young adult Christian Scientist, raising our kids, teaching Sunday school, active with Adventure Unlimited and Principia, I found it harder and harder (more…)

‘With You Always’ probes MBE hymns

Monday, February 2nd, 2009

Posted on this website, in addition to the Ananias welcome letter I co-authored with others, are a number of essays relating my decision (more…)

‘Diary of an Old Soul’ by GMD

Sunday, January 25th, 2009

May I send you a gift copy of my favorite devotional book, worth a moment as you begin each morning with Bible study and prayer? (more…)

Echoes of an unspoken sermon

Monday, November 3rd, 2008

Morning. Thoughts about life; about music. I make coffee and pour a cup. Max, the Chowderhead, is fed and lying at my feet. I pick up staff paper, blank – and pencil, loaded. Nothing comes. (more…)