Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-11
SCIENTISTS DISCUSS
| MIND AND RELIGION
CIergymen, Psychologists and
Physicians Present
Views.
BY THOMAS r.. HENRY.

BY THOMAS r. HENRY.
Harvesting the sciences of the mind
and religion was discussed by clergy
men, psychologists and physicians at
the closing session of the World Con-
gress on Mental Hygiene here yesterday.
The psychoanalysis of religious ex-
perience was presented by DR.. Oscar
Phster, noted Swiss clergyman and
psychoanalist Religion, he maintained,
is indispensable for preservation OF men
tai health, although abnormal emotional
conditions may find their expression in
religious behavior.
DR.. Paul Hanley Furfey of Catholic
University, however, insisted that re-
ligion and mental hygiene should not be
confused-the one being way of life"
and the other technique for treatment
of the sick-but that religion welcomes
to her aid all means of relieving human
suffering
DIR. Elliot Speaks.
DR.. Harrison Elliot. professor of
psychology at Union Theological Sem
mary. welcomed the changes in the con-
cepts of sin and dependence on super
natural protector which are being
brought about by study of the mechan-
isns of the mind.
artist, questioned whether the old re-
ligions could be adapted to the needs Of
q new age trying to work out the full
ness of human happiness in the present
world rather than projecting 1t into an
unknown future.
While he considered religion an in
valuable aid to mental health, DR.
Pf1ster declared that there are certain
pathological manifestations which are
the equivalent of neurotic symptoms
arising out of conflicts in the indivi-
dual, but which are not recognized as
such at the time because they aff1ict
great numbers of persons. Such, he
said ARE the trials of witches, the
cruelties of the inquisition, collection
hallucinations and end-of-the world
deliriums.
Can Accelerate Mental Ill-Health.
and accelerate mental ill-health. This
is always the case when the instincts
are held as suspect or dismissed with
no acknowledgment of their moral and
religious worth, when the striving after
knowledge is fettered by dogmas, when
moral activity is cut short by expecta-
ton of the near end of the world, and
when the will to rise above dogmatic
generalization of the world to come"
On the other hand. declared DR..
Phster. religion is able TO render harm
less dangerous conflicts, and often does
So 1t mitigates inner tension which
otherwise might prove unbearable.
Through religion, those who are dis
satisfied with their day-hy-day existence
receive a relative satisfaction of their
longing for a fuller life, happiness and
higher values. Religion ciiminishes the
pathogenic danger further by indirect
wish fulflllment, as when the notion of
divine punishment replaces forbidden
act OF human revenge. by consolins and
promising hopes, and by substituting
ideal compensations for the egotistical
and harsh dealings of everyday life.
Religions challenge to moral ac-
tivity keeps the psychic energies an
chored in reality and makes the escape
into neurosis more difficult.
All neuroses and psychoses contain
an element which is hostile to society
and lead to relative isolation of the
individual. Through its social cflarac-
ter, religion works against this kind of
introyersion."
DR.. Furfey Gives Views.
Protesting the formulation of reli-
gion in terms Of the mental sciences,
DR.. Furfey insisted that mental n.y.
giene could throw no light on such
subjects as the reason for mans ex-
istence, a law of absolute, right and
wrong, and life after death. These,
he said, will always be the primary
concerns of religion.
The mental sciences will help reli-
gion to formulate itself according to
the needs of the day, getting it further
away from the concept of God, the
Father" upon whom one can throw
the burden of inadequacies and mis-
deeds. as the child on the father of
the family. said DR.. Elliot.
Speaking before another meeting
on seq and civilization, the Union Theo-
logical Seminary professor advocated
encouraging marriages of men and
women in professional schools and
possibly in colleges" He protested
| withdraw allowances from sons or
daughters in school who get married,
maintaining that they are abb to work
better than when single.
DR.. Solomon maintained that con-
sideration of the psychological basis of
the God idea" makes the psychiatrist
| tolerant Of all religions, but maintained
the need of new religious concept
which would have as its chief aim the
something in this world individually
and socially good.
Luncheon Closes Session.
The closing meeting of the congress,
at which 81 nations have been repre-
sented, was the international luncheon
at the willard today, at which the rec
| concentrations of the congress COM
mittee were presented.
One of these urged that jury trials
on the issue of insanity for commit
ment be discontinued in all countries
Others advocated the establishment of
mental hygiene clinics everywhere,
clinics in prisons and psychiatrics ex-
animation of all persons brought to
trial, and that uniform international
statistics regarding mental diseases be
collected.
E00 EEll0NICulp