Christian Science Reading Room
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2008-03-20T01:30:27Z
Do go be man
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Reverted vandalism
[[image:5054_christian-science-reading-room-e.jpg|400px|left|thumb|A typical storefront Christian Science Reading Room on the main street of a suburb of Boston. The window displays a lamp, a large Bible open to the current reading, and copies of ''Science and Health.'' ]]
Branches of the [[Church of Christ, Scientist]] normally maintain a '''Christian Science Reading Room''' in their community where the public can study, borrow, or purchase [[Christian Science]] literature. There are approximately 2000 Christian Science Reading Rooms worldwide. <!--Source: http://www.churchofchristscientist.org/scienceandhealth/ which says _Science and Health is "Sold in 80 countries at more than 3,000 bookstores and 2,000 Christian Science Reading Rooms..."--->
Such information includes the Christian [[Bible]], ''[[Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures]]'', other writings by [[Mary Baker Eddy]] (who established reading rooms as a church activity), and other items published by the [[Christian Science Publishing Society]].
Reading rooms are usually placed in public places—often storefronts—though occasionally situated within a church building itself, open either full or part-time, and attended by either a regular librarian or by members to assist or answer inquiries.
The first Christian Science Reading Room was established in [[Boston]] in 1888. The Christian Science Journal proudly noted that it was in "one of the most eligible locations in Boston... in the Hotel Boylston, over the Steinert piano warehouses... where some of the best concerts are held." According to Paul Eli Ivey, "By the early twentieth century, Christian Science reading rooms began to appear in the business districts of cities and featured the [[Christian Science Monitor]] as well as religious literature."
In many parts of the U.S., Christian Science Reading Rooms are ubiquitous parts of the downtown landscape. A book by Kristin Hahn speaks of "Breezing by the Christian Science Reading Rooms prominently centered on [[main street]]s all across America." Novelists use them to characterize respectable-but-shabby commercial districts. A mystery novel by Loren D. Estleman characterizes the location of a detective office by putting it among a beauty school, a plumbing supply store, "a hearing-aid shop, [and] a Christian Science reading room next to a medical supply outlet." A fictional cop in a novel by Peter Plate steers a patrol car "past Siegal's Tuxedo Shop, Queen's Shoes, Discoteca Latina, The Eggroll Express, The Christian Science Reading Room, and Duc Loi's Meat and Fish Company." [[The Simpsons]]' fictional town of Springfield contains one.
== References ==
*[http://www.churchofchristscientist.org/worldwidedirectory/ Online search page for locating Christian Science Reading Rooms]
* [http://www.tfccs.com/ Home Page of The First Church of Christ, Scientist]
* [http://www.marybakereddylibrary.org/ The Mary Baker Eddy Library for the Betterment of Humanity]
* [http://www.tfccs.org/gv/csps/csj/testimonies.jhtml "Reports of Healing"] from the ''Christian Science Journal''
* [http://www.spirituality.com Spirituality.com] The official website of the [[Christian Science Publishing Society]]
* [http://www.tfccs.com/weeklybiblelesson The current weekly Bible Lesson in Webcast]
* [http://www.csmonitor.com/ The Christian Science Monitor (International Daily Newspaper)]
*{{cite book
| first = Paul Eli
| last = Ivey
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| year = 1999
| month =
| title = '''Prayers in Stone: Christian Science Architecture in the United States, 1894-1930 '''
| chapter =
| editor =
| others =
| edition =
| pages =
| publisher = University of Illinois Press
| location =
| id = ISBN 0-252-02445-1
| url =
}}
*[http://www.snpp.com/guides/bibliography05.html Lisa the Skeptic] Simpsons episode 5F05, in which an anti-science mob attacks a Christian Science Reading Room
[[Category:Christian Science]]