Editorial December 2, 1961 Issue

The Preventive and Curative Arts

Ralph E. Wagers

We read in Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy (p. 369), "The prophylactic and therapeutic (that is, the preventive and curative) arts belong emphatically to Christian Science, as would be readily seen, if psychology, or the Science of Spirit, God, was understood." This use of the word "psychology" certainly challenges thought, because psychology is usually considered as having to do only with the human mind.

In most of its early manifestations, however, psychology was a branch of metaphysics dealing with the concept of the soul, and, of course, it is in its metaphysical sense that Mrs. Eddy uses this word. In his third letter, which was addressed to Gaius, John recognized the relationship of well-being to Soul when he wrote (verse 2), "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."

One dictionary definition of "psychology" (in its usual sense) is "systematic knowledge and investigation of the phenomena of consciousness and behavior." To understand properly these phenomena, we must make a distinction between the Mind which is God and the so-called mortal or carnal mind. And it is this distinction in Christian Science that enables us to do two things: to bring our lives into accord with the divine Mind and to find freedom from a fictitious mortal mind.

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