Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I recently called the KI USA office to receive some clarification concerning my study. Why did the staff person refer me to Kappeler’s books instead of answering my questions directly?

Comment by Joel Jessen, President of KI USA:

When I first met Max Kappeler in 1966 as a very young student of Science, I had so many questions to ask him about Science and about progress in my studies. Max would say to me that his mission was not to answer directly all of my questions, but to teach me how to rely on prayer, and how to always go back to the Bible, Science and Health, and his works to find the specific answers. I took his advice, and found that by relying on the divine Mind, the answers to my questions came within the logic of the subject and within the divine system of reference.

Take your questions back to Science. The staff at KI USA will do their best to make suggestions on where to look for answers to your questions in Max Kappeler’s work (and/or the Bible and Science and Health). The answers are within the system of Science, and we are happy to assist you in finding them.

Q: I still struggle with integrating the method of Science into daily life—I wish I were advancing more rapidly. The same old false beliefs keep reappearing and I get discouraged. Any suggestions?

The pertinent point here is: We do not personally integrate the method of Science into our daily life—God, divine Principle does this via its inherent divinely cybernetic laws of Life, Truth, and Love. How is this achieved? God, the one infinite Being (Science itself), is a self-organizing system, running on a self-regulating circuit (divine Science) has positive, error-preventing feedback (absolute Christian Science) as well as negative, error-correcting feedback (Christian Science).

As we learn from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 112:16:

“From the infinite One in Christian Science [Science itself]
comes one Principle and its infinite idea, [divine Science]
and with this infinitude come spiritual rules, laws, [absolute Christian Science]
and their demonstration” [Christian Science].

The law of God, divine Principle, Love, does the integration, bringing out its desired demonstration in our daily life—God, divine Principle, Love self-declares (Word), self-expresses (Christ), self-fulfills (Christianity), and self-explains (Science). Our “job” is to accept, through prayer, the demonstration of this divinely cybernetic law that stands behind our daily life-experience, and not resist it! Our struggles are usually due to our fears that God doesn’t know us and isn’t at work solving our so-called daily problems.

Q: Does KI USA keep a list of practitioners who are students of Science?

The Kappeler Institute does not maintain a list of practitioners or recommend individual practitioners—at the direct request of Max Kappeler. This is because he always felt his mission was to teach students how to be their own practitioners. Max said:

In my work I teach, through the method of ‘Scientific Obstetrics,’ how to accept the self-demonstrating laws of Life, Truth, and Love into our lives.”

Because of this, KI USA encourages students to become their own practitioners through prayer and their study of Science. This encouragement it is not meant to discourage use of practitioners, friends, or other assistance. The “family law”—universal reflection of ideas (Christianity/Christian Science)—impacts the understanding and consciousness of students so that in their prayers they should be willing to follow this law and practice not only for themselves, but for every other idea (see Max Kappeler, A Study Aid for the Science of Christian Science, p. 55).

Q: Science seems to be the very thing that the world needs right now. What can I do to further the idea and Kappeler’s work on Science?

Many students feel as you do: you understand the depth and value of Science, and want to lend your effort to make sure it reaches a wider audience. In your zeal, you might feel as if you must do something in order for the desired outcome to be achieved. But before you go out and undertake a big project, ponder this: the idea of Science is taking care of itself. It is unfolding in its proper order according to the divine laws of Life, Truth, and Love. These divine laws carry within themselves their own inner acceleration, inner logic, and inner goal-directedness. This is the modus operandi that evolves Science forward.

Supporting the idea

Does this mean that we should sit back and do nothing? No, of course not. Rather, we should keep in view that the most important work we can do, as individuals, is to culture a spiritual consciousness. Study Science. Allow the Christ-idea, step-by-step, to restructure consciousness through prayerful study of the Bible, Science and Health, and Kappeler’s timeless works. Mrs. Eddy, in answer to the question: “How can I progress most rapidly in the understanding of Christian Science?” states that we must (1) study thoroughly the letter and (2) imbibe the spirit of Science (see S&H 495:27). As we do this, “thought accepts the divine infinite calculus” (S&H 520:14).

Supporting Kappeler’s work financially.

Financial gifts allow the KI USA to continue to serve students and publish, protect, and disseminate Kappeler’s work. The KI USA has a spiritual mission which involves doing our part in the unfolding of the idea. We gratefully accept donations from those who appreciate our role and would like to see us continue. For more information on supporting KI USA, see the Support KI USA webpage.

Q: I have acquaintances who I think would like Max Kappeler’s work. Will you send them Introductory Packets?

The KI USA is happy to provide Introductory Packets to interested individuals. As per our KI USA policy on Gifts, we will:

1. Send an Introductory Packet directly to your friend(s), providing that you have spoken with them and they have agreed to accept the materials.
2. Send an Introductory Packet to you, and you may present them to your friend(s).
3. Or, you can direct them to this KI USA website, and they can read/order an Introductory Packet themselves.

The vast majority of our new students come from friends, like you, sharing Kappeler’s work with those who might be open and interested. Click to request an Introductory Packet be sent to a friend.

Q: How should I introduce Kappeler’s work to a friend who is active in the Christian Science Church?

Your willingness to introduce Science to others is greatly appreciated. We recommend that students offer “the cup of cold water” (the offer of spiritual help), to those that they think might be open to it. Those who are truly interested will pursue Science. For some, it might take some time before they are ready.

Tell your friends about the KI USA website, and send them a link via email. They can introduce themselves to Kappeler’s work at their own pace.

Above all, do not be offended if someone appears uninterested. Those who are truly seeking will find.

KI USA POLICY: We always recommend that students study Kappeler’s original work on the Science of Christian Science. Kappeler’s timeless work is vital to a full understanding of the Science of Being in its Science.

KI USA POSITION: All teachers and writers on Science are independent. Individuals are free to teach their understanding of the subject, and are free to research and create their own work on the Science of Christian Science. A teacher’s work stands alone as the product of that teacher, and must be judged on its own merits. A teacher can base their work on Kappeler’s work, but it is not “the same as” or “a continuation of” Kappeler’s work, as there is always the issue of personal interpretation. Max used to say in his summer school classes “Write this at the top of your paper: ‘This is what I think Max said.’” This is why we recommend studying Kappeler’s original work.

Q: Are there other Science teachers you recommend?

Other than Mary Baker Eddy and John W. Doorly (Kappeler’s teachers), KI USA does not recommend or endorse teachers in Science. Max Kappeler stated his position on this subject very clearly in the KI NEWS, Vol. #14 (pdf) article “KI USA: Past, Present and Future,” p. 15.

Q: I have signed up for a class based on Kappeler’s work. Is the teacher affiliated with KI USA?

No. The KI USA is not affiliated with any other organizations or individuals. In the past there were other teachers teaching under the auspices of the KI USA, but Max Kappeler ended this affiliation in 1997. For more history on this subject, see:

• KI NEWS, Vol. 14 (pdf) p. 15, The Kappeler Institute USA: It’s Past, Present, and Future.
• KI Newsletter, Vol. 4 (pdf) p. 1, Message from Max Kappeler concerning Kappeler Institutes, Worldwide.

Q: I took a class, and the teacher used materials by Max Kappeler. The handouts were marked “used with permission by KI USA.” Does this mean that you are in agreement with the instructor’s teaching?

Not necessarily (reread KI USA POSITION, above). KI USA will give written permission, and sometimes supply class materials (for a nominal fee), to teachers or study group leaders who request them. We do this as a community service and to encourage teachers to abide by copyright law. However, the presence of these Kappeler citations or materials does not constitute an endorsement of the class or teacher. We have no knowledge of what other teachers are saying or teaching.

Q: Why is Max Kappeler’s work considered “unauthorized literature” by the Christian Science Church, and why was he excommunicated?

Max Kappeler’s books are on the “unauthorized literature” list for the Christian Science Church due to his independent research and teaching of the Science of Christian Science.

Max Kappeler wrote about this topic in his introductory booklet, What is the Science of Being?:

It is on these two books, the Bible and Science and Health, that instruction in the Science of being is based. That is to say, I have based my research and teaching on two books and not on a religion or church-organization called ‘Christian Science.’ I too was once, 40 years ago, a member of the Christian Science church, but not for very long. I was too independent a thinker, and more interested in the research of the Science of Christian Science than a religious organization allows, and was consequently excommunicated. My whole interest was focused on understanding the Christian Science textbook (which nowhere speaks of or demands a material, human church-organization) as Science and not simply as religion” (pp. 24–25).

If you are interested in researching this issue more deeply, you can order a copy of A Statement by John W. Doorly (print copies available through KI USA or the John W. Doorly Trust). John W. Doorly, a past President of the Mother Church, was Max Kappeler’s teacher and pioneered the research into Science for which both he and Max Kappeler were excommunicated. This booklet contains an extensive collection of the communication between John W. Doorly and the Directors of the Mother Church regarding the issues that lead to his excommunication. During this same time, Max Kappeler wrote Christian Government — Its Scientific Evolution.