Which belief system is referenced in “The God That Failed” on Metallica's 1991 album?

Christian Science is the belief system referenced in “The God That Failed” on Metallica's 1991 album.

James Hetfield wrote the song about the death of his mother, who followed Christian Science beliefs. The religion's approach to medical treatment became central to the song's subject matter, because Hetfield connected her refusal of conventional medical care with her death from cancer.

The track is therefore more personal than its title might initially suggest. Rather than serving as a general statement about religion, it expresses Hetfield's anger and grief over a specific family experience. The song's dark theme contributes to the album's more introspective lyrical direction.

Listeners sometimes confuse the song with “The Unforgiven” or “My Friend of Misery,” which also deal with emotional conflict. “The God That Failed” is the Black Album track most directly tied to Hetfield's experience with Christian Science.