Summary:

"God's Perfect Child: Living and Dying in the Christian Science Church" by Caroline Fraser provides an in-depth investigation into the beliefs, practices, and controversies surrounding the Christian Science Church. Fraser explores the church's history, its impact on followers, and the challenges faced by those who embrace its teachings. Through meticulous research and personal narratives, this book offers a critical and comprehensive look at the influence of Christian Science on its adherents' lives.

From Pulitzer Prize-winning author and former Christian Scientist Caroline Fraser comes the first unvarnished account of one of America's most controversial and little-understood religious movements.

Millions of Americans – from Lady Astor to Ginger Rogers to Watergate conspirator H. R. Haldeman – have been touched by the Church of Christ, Scientist. Founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1879, Christian Science was based on a belief that intense contemplation of the perfection of God can heal all ills – an extreme expression of the American faith in self-reliance. In this unflinching investigation, Caroline Fraser, herself raised in a Scientist household, shows how the Church transformed itself from a small, eccentric sect into a politically powerful and socially respectable religion, and explores the human cost of Christian Science's remarkable rise.

Fraser examines the strange life and psychology of Mary Baker Eddy, who lived in dread of a kind of witchcraft she called Malicious Animal Magnetism. She takes us into the closed world of Eddy's followers, who refuse to acknowledge the existence of illness and death and reject modern medicine, even at the cost of their children's lives. She reveals just how Christian Science managed to gain extraordinary legal and Congressional sanction for its dubious practices and tracks its enormous influence on new-age beliefs and other modern healing cults.

A passionate exposé of zealotry, God's Perfect Child tells one of the most dramatic and little-known stories in American religious history.

Editorial Reviews:

"An incisive and thorough examination of Christian Science. Fraser's work is a vital contribution to understanding this often-misunderstood faith." - The New York Times

"Fraser's meticulous research and compelling storytelling offer a profound insight into the complex world of Christian Science." - Publishers Weekly

"A powerful and enlightening critique of the Christian Science Church. Fraser's narrative is both engaging and deeply informative." - Library Journal

About the Author: Caroline Fraser is an acclaimed author and journalist known for her investigative work and compelling narratives. With a keen eye for detail and a dedication to uncovering the truth, Fraser has written extensively on topics related to religion, history, and culture. Her work has received numerous accolades for its depth and insight.