The Destiny of The Mother Church
Encyclopedia
The Destiny of The Mother Church (1991, ISBN 087510231X) is the primary and theologically disputed work of Bliss Knapp
, the son of Ira O. and Flavia S. Knapp, trusted students of Mary Baker Eddy
. According to the Introduction to the Twentieth-Century Biographers Series published by The Christian Science Publishing Society, Mary Baker Eddy trusted Ira greatly, making him one of the original Directors of The Mother Church and "one of her closest workers over more than two decades".
The younger Knapp was a Christian Science
lecturer for over 21 years. He was also a teacher of Christian Science who believed that Eddy represented a personal fulfillment of biblical prophecy such as the woman in the 12th chapter of the Book of Revelation
. Although representatives of the church testified in a court hearing that the apocalyptic woman represented a generic, universal type of the world's persecution of spiritual truth rather than a specific personality, Mary Baker Eddy did identify with the experience the apocalyptic woman represented.
The book was privately published in 1947 and Knapp sent a book draft of Destiny to the Christian Science Board of Directors requesting that the church publish it as authorized literature. The Christian Science Board of Directors wrote him a six-page letter in February 1948 politely explaining numerous points they regarded as at erroneous variance from Eddy's teaching. Instead of revising it as they proposed, he left a trust with approximately $100 million in 1990s dollars, acquired by way of marriage to Eloise Mabury, to revert to the Christian Science church
if it ever published his work as "authorized literature".
Although through the decades the Board of Directors
as a whole voted against publishing the book, there are questions as to the unanimity of those decisions. In the 1990s the whole Christian Science Board of Directors decided to publish The Destiny of The Mother Church arguing that the book did not have to bear the burden of theological correctness.
While some members believed the decision to publish the book was prompted by the financial needs of The Mother Church, The Christian Science Board of Directors argued that because Knapp knew Mary Baker Eddy personally and was intimately involved in the workings of the church during her lifetime, his biography presented a valuable historical record.
The church issued The Destiny of The Mother Church without annotation as Knapp's will demanded, as part of a series of biographies of Mary Baker Eddy, called The Twentieth-Century Biographers Series.
In the fall of 1991 former church Archivist Lee Johnson presented a six-page letter of the book's unusual history. A large number of Christian Science
branch churches voted not to carry the book or simply declined to order it, though precise figures are difficult to establish. The financial disbursement was contested by alternate beneficiaries Stanford University
and the Los Angeles County Art Museum, ultimating in an approximately 50-25-25 negotiated settlement split (in apparent violation of Knapp's original mandate that his terms not be in any way disputed).
The book's publication attracted a fair deal of unwelcome media
attention and continued to be held by many members, in spite of the church's defense, to violate Eddy's basic teachings and the Manual of The Mother Church
, the church's equivalent of constitutional law
.
Bliss Knapp
Bliss Knapp , the son of Ira O. and Flavia S. Knapp, students of Mary Baker Eddy, was a Christian Science lecturer, practitioner, teacher and the author of the highly controversial book, The Destiny of the Mother Church.-Childhood:Bliss Knapp, C.S.B., was born on June 7, 1877 in Lyman, N.H...
, the son of Ira O. and Flavia S. Knapp, trusted students of Mary Baker Eddy
Mary Baker Eddy
Mary Baker Eddy was the founder of Christian Science , a Protestant American system of religious thought and practice religion adopted by the Church of Christ, Scientist, and others...
. According to the Introduction to the Twentieth-Century Biographers Series published by The Christian Science Publishing Society, Mary Baker Eddy trusted Ira greatly, making him one of the original Directors of The Mother Church and "one of her closest workers over more than two decades".
The younger Knapp was a Christian Science
Christian Science
Christian Science is a system of thought and practice derived from the writings of Mary Baker Eddy and the Bible. It is practiced by members of The First Church of Christ, Scientist as well as some others who are nonmembers. Its central texts are the Bible and the Christian Science textbook,...
lecturer for over 21 years. He was also a teacher of Christian Science who believed that Eddy represented a personal fulfillment of biblical prophecy such as the woman in the 12th chapter of the Book of Revelation
Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament. The title came into usage from the first word of the book in Koine Greek: apokalupsis, meaning "unveiling" or "revelation"...
. Although representatives of the church testified in a court hearing that the apocalyptic woman represented a generic, universal type of the world's persecution of spiritual truth rather than a specific personality, Mary Baker Eddy did identify with the experience the apocalyptic woman represented.
The book was privately published in 1947 and Knapp sent a book draft of Destiny to the Christian Science Board of Directors requesting that the church publish it as authorized literature. The Christian Science Board of Directors wrote him a six-page letter in February 1948 politely explaining numerous points they regarded as at erroneous variance from Eddy's teaching. Instead of revising it as they proposed, he left a trust with approximately $100 million in 1990s dollars, acquired by way of marriage to Eloise Mabury, to revert to the Christian Science church
Church of Christ, Scientist
The Church of Christ, Scientist was founded in 1879 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, by Mary Baker Eddy. She was the author of the book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. Christian Science teaches that the "allness" of God denies the reality of sin, sickness, death, and the material world...
if it ever published his work as "authorized literature".
Although through the decades the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
as a whole voted against publishing the book, there are questions as to the unanimity of those decisions. In the 1990s the whole Christian Science Board of Directors decided to publish The Destiny of The Mother Church arguing that the book did not have to bear the burden of theological correctness.
While some members believed the decision to publish the book was prompted by the financial needs of The Mother Church, The Christian Science Board of Directors argued that because Knapp knew Mary Baker Eddy personally and was intimately involved in the workings of the church during her lifetime, his biography presented a valuable historical record.
The church issued The Destiny of The Mother Church without annotation as Knapp's will demanded, as part of a series of biographies of Mary Baker Eddy, called The Twentieth-Century Biographers Series.
In the fall of 1991 former church Archivist Lee Johnson presented a six-page letter of the book's unusual history. A large number of Christian Science
Christian Science
Christian Science is a system of thought and practice derived from the writings of Mary Baker Eddy and the Bible. It is practiced by members of The First Church of Christ, Scientist as well as some others who are nonmembers. Its central texts are the Bible and the Christian Science textbook,...
branch churches voted not to carry the book or simply declined to order it, though precise figures are difficult to establish. The financial disbursement was contested by alternate beneficiaries Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
and the Los Angeles County Art Museum, ultimating in an approximately 50-25-25 negotiated settlement split (in apparent violation of Knapp's original mandate that his terms not be in any way disputed).
The book's publication attracted a fair deal of unwelcome media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
attention and continued to be held by many members, in spite of the church's defense, to violate Eddy's basic teachings and the Manual of The Mother Church
Manual of The Mother Church
The Manual of The Mother Church by Mary Baker Eddy is the governing document, or in effect constitution, of the Christian Science Church.The "Church Manual" or "Manual" went through 88 revisions during Eddy's lifetime. The 89th edition incorporates revisions said to be in process prior to Eddy's...
, the church's equivalent of constitutional law
Constitutional law
Constitutional law is the body of law which defines the relationship of different entities within a state, namely, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary....
.