ABSTRACT

The scientific temper which seeks economy in all its explanations and asks only for a cause sufficient for the effect and which is, constantly trying to relate the unknown to the known, takes another line and finds in faith healing just one more illustration of the power of mind over body. Now since mental attitudes so react upon bodily states, whatever strongly controls mental attitudes becomes a very great factor in mental healing. Hypnotism seems to be such a modification of normal mental conditions under the power of commanding suggestion as really for the time being to focus consciousness and mental action generally in one suggested line. This chapter discusses the Demon possession was, the earliest explanation of disease. The Church possessed, as was everywhere then believed, not only a prevailing power over demons, but a supernatural power all her own for the healing of disease. This power was associated with saints and relics and shrines.