In a publication of this city there recently appeared two articles upon " faith-cures," in one of which, after quoting with approval from the Christian Commonwealth, a religious paper, that "Christian Science, faith-cure, and mind-cure are the offspring of fanaticism and superstition, productive of atheism and corruption," the writer proceeds to claim for modern physiology and philosophy the office of leader and teacher in the field of psychical phenomena.
Some of the statements indicate the writer's position on mind-cure, or faith-cure, as well as Christian Science: "A new mental philosophy has arisen, which finds the fundamental qualities of mind running all through the organization." "Mind is not an entity, but is a part of the physical organization." "All of these cures, whether by Christian Science or by prayer, are effected by faith." Then cases are cited to show that different states of mind have induced and cured disease. According to them, it is by faith, or exercise of the mental faculties, that these cures are effected. This might be received in support of mental healing, if the intention of the argument were not to prove that "mind is not an entity, but a part of the physical organization."
Such a position is far from scientific, and is not supported in the brief definition of a universally accepted authority, who defines "entity" as "indicating a real being, whether of thought or in fact, and God as the Being of beings." Even psychical physiology has recently affirmed and acknowledged that "the fact exists all the time; the fact of the existence of some superior thinking, active power, and because man seems to plan, discover, invent, apply reason, has emotion, can love the true and beautiful, he represents in part the Divine Mind—is a part of it."
