Mark Twain: Christian Science

Christian Science II, 3-4

jim_snowden@mac.com (Jim Snowden) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:46:19 -0700

Mark Twain delves deeper into Mrs. Eddy's authorship and, after taking into consideration all of her testimony on the matter, can confidently conclude that either she wrote it, or God did. Either way, it's clear that either author is useless without His or her well paid army of polishers.

To hear more of the McCroskey Memorial Internet Playhouse's podcast dramas and audiobooks--okay, one drama and one audiobook, but we're working as fast as we can here, dammit!--visit our website: www.theinternetplayhouse.com.

(This version of this podcast corrects a pair of regrettable errors from the previous version. Mea culpa! Mea maxima culpa!)

Christian Science II, 1-2

jim_snowden@mac.com (Jim Snowden) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:43:58 -0700

Twain considers the foibles that Mary Baker Eddy's autobiography exposes--including her love of her own incredibly bad poetry. He goes on to ask the $64,000 question about "Science and Health": could an author whose writing, from the age of 7-70, was consistently awkward and hard to read, produce as smooth and competently-written a piece of literature as "Science and Health"?

To listen to previous chapters, or to hear our current mainstage show, "Let Us Sit Upon The Ground", visit us at www.theinternetplayhouse.com.

Christian Science I, 8-9

jim_snowden@mac.com (Jim Snowden) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 21:54:37 -0700

Mark Twain looks into a crystal ball to see into the future of the Christian Science enterprise and, contra the pundits and wags of his era, concludes that Mrs. Eddy's church has enormous potential precisely because it appeals most strongly to people who don't think.

Christian Science I, 7

jim_snowden@mac.com (Jim Snowden) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 23:16:06 -0700

Mark Twain gives us a rundown of Christian Science prices, and discusses how the church's zealous pursuit of real, rather than spiritual dollars and their concentration of those dollars in the hands of those at the top of the C.S. Trust will help Christian Science bestride the Christian world like a colossus within 100 years.

For previous chapters and compelling audiodrama, visit us at www.theinternetplayhouse.com.

NOTE: This is the second version of this chapter of the podcast. The first contained a mistake that simply couldn't remain. Apologies to anyone who had to download this chapter twice.

Christian Science I, 6

jim_snowden@mac.com (Jim Snowden) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 17:29:34 -0700

Mark Twain inspects the machinery driving Christian Science: the irresponsible clique that leads it, the new personages it offers as objects of worship, and the bait it offers to converts. He concludes that C.S. may make the greatest splash of any religion since religion began, even if it kills a man every now and then.

Chapters 3, 4, and 5

jim_snowden@mac.com (Jim Snowden) — Wed, 4 Jun 2008 02:02:20 -0700

Mark Twain explores the similarities between the blind staggers produced by bran mash and drench and those produced by reading the Christian Science Bible, SCIENCE AND HEALTH. Afterwards he uncovers the psychological effects that undergird the supposed powers of Christian Science, and muses about the nature and picturesqueness of the Christian Scientist's insanity.

Prologue, Chapters 1 and 2

jim_snowden@mac.com (Jim Snowden) — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:29:57 -0700

Mark Twain tells the tale of a sojourn in the mountains of Austria. After falling off a cliff and bouncing a few times, Twain finds himself under the care of Mrs. Fuller, a Christian Science faith healer, who informs him that, his broken bones and blinding pain notwithstanding, there is nothing wrong with him. Screaming cats and apodictical principles are on the warpath!