Article April 16, 1927 Issue

In the interesting review of a work, "Religiosity and Morbid Mental States,"...

Cecil E. Benjamin, Committee on Publication for the Cape of Good Hope, Union of South Africa,—Cape Town

Cape Times

In the interesting review of a work, "Religiosity and Morbid Mental States," in your recent issue, it is stated that "the author is convinced that medical and spiritual treatment should go hand in hand, neither despising the other. As a medical man, he knows both the power and the limitations of the various methods of 'suggestion.' He asserts that anything in which the patient confidently believes can cure disease—medicines, or electric belts, or breathing exercises, or optimistic formulae, like those of Coueism or Christian Science. But he also knows that there are cases in which spiritual treatment may do more harm than good, and in any case is sure that the action of such methods is no more evidence of a divine force than is the operation of drugs or of effects of surgery."

In his admission as to the value of spiritual treatment in the healing of disease, the author of the book is by no means alone in the medical profession; but when, after making this admission, he couples Christian Science with suggestion and Coueism, alleges that the use of optimistic formulas enters the practice of Christian Science, and denies that healing by Christian Science is due to divine power, he betrays ignorance of Christian Science. It is of course true that Christian Science and these other methods all use mental means; but here the similarity ends, for whilst Christian Science teaches and proves that it is the Mind of Christ which heals, the other systems rely upon mortal consciousness, the carnal mind, which Paul described as "enmity against God." Christian Science, on the one hand, and Coueism and suggestion, on the other, are, therefore, diametrically opposite; and this fact can be proved in the individual experience of any honest investigator of Christian Science. As regards the use by Christian Scientists of formulas, this is expressly forbidden. But it is when the doctor argues for the great value of prayer and at the same time denies that the results of Christian Science—which relies upon the prayer of spiritual understanding—are evidence of divine force, that he falls into a very quagmire of illogicality. From this, it is safe to predict, he will not emerge until he learns to admit that after all there is something above and beyond the so-called human mind, and that that something is God, "who healeth all thy diseases."

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

In the interesting review of a work, "Religiosity and Morbid Mental States,"...

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access