While some will at times lecture on first century Christianity, I have to this day never heard a mention of the Gnostics or any other group from that time which is not simply a regurgitation of something from their founder.

While they unblushingly swear to their audiences that Christian Science is the "only proper way" with as much vehemence as a Mohammedan, Evangelical or Catholic Priest, their insistence on being the "only right" path serves to demonstrate their foolishness. Should you attend such a lecture, be assured that the "Eddyist" will emulate the Mormon who insists that Joseph Smith is the only proper prophet with the same steadfast surety as a Mohammedan shouts forth the same, with the exception that Mohammed is "the one."

Each of these believers has so thoroughly been indoctrinated in their beliefs as to become indifferent to the suffering of any but their own. The whole transaction "demonstrates" nerve power.

The fifth method is "Faith Cure," which would be more accurately styled "Prayer Cure," for faith is essential to every method of psychic healing. Of course, it makes no particular difference in what the faith is put, whether in God, or a healer, or an abstract proposition, or an amulet; but there must be faith, confidence, before there be any "Mind Cure." In passing it may be said that the object of faith may influence a person's respective qualities of character and ethics of action, In the United States, which is one of the few lands with Freedom of Religion, there are quite the number of Athiests who demonstrate a deeper nature of compassion and higher ethics than any number of religious people.

The determining factor of quality and results of treatment will invariably be the belief of the individual.

This is something that should be remembered.

The Lourdes cures, healing facilitated by objects such as amulets and crystals fall at least in part here.

Those of the notorious John Alexander Dowie likewise rank as faith cures, and there were thousands of them --- although he was a monster, ethically and religiously.

Here fall the cures wrought in a good many churches, mosques and temples of all kinds.

Strange as it may seem to many, this method of mental healing is no different from the other five in that it is an axe with a head and a blade, as any one can easily see by examination.

The axe-head is the declaration that disease, as well as sin, was included in Christ's atoning sacrifice, or the revelations of Joseph Smith, or Mohammed.

Christians are bound to claim exemption from disease as from sin, or by their refusal to dishonor their Savior.

Mormons are required to demonstrate faith in the teachings of Smith in order to attain rebirth upon a far away planet known as the "Celestial Kingdom."

Mohammedans must hold faith in the teachings of their "Last Prophet" and thereby attain the miracle of healing.

Vedists must focus on the teachings of that particular aspect of the Divine which embodies their practice.

Buddhist must likewise maintain what they call "Buddha Mind."

All in all, for success of treatment, each participant is required to focus on his or her faith to the point of transformation of the illness into health. Prayer for the healing of disease must, therefore, have no element of contingency in it on the part of the petitioner. Whatever the faith of the petitioner, his or her "Higher Power" will effect the cure.