To the Editor:

Irving Kristol in his excellent article “God and the Psychoanalysts” calls attention to the odd alliance between religion and the psychoanalysts, recently so fervently praised and recommended by certain theologians. In reading Peace of Mind, I received the impression that religiosity was essentially conceived as a means to render man free from mental suffering, fear, and anxiety, which are an obstacle to the development of a natural joy in life. . . . But Mr. Kristol is completely right in insisting that the first and most important question is not whether religion makes us happy but whether it is true. . . . If the psychoanalytical interpretation of the origin of religion is correct, then piety indeed is a great error. . . .

We certainly do not long for the return of the times in which the established church (and occasionally the synagogue, too) controlled science. But we should agree with Mr. Kristol that the theologians should at least take the question of truth seriously. This means that they should teach that belief has by no means the primary purpose of making man happy, but rather of leading him to the divine truth which sometimes may be very hitter. The blissfulness which emerges from serious piety is in many important respects different from the happiness attained by psychiatric or psychoanalytical methods. Of course, religion intends to grant bliss—but such a one as can be acquired only by devotion to God.

And He may lead man to the highest goal through painful sufferings and even martyrdom. That, too, is happiness for the believer, but it is quite different from the comfortable state of mind psychological treatment attempts to provide. . . .

Max Wiener
New York City

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