"Of course you've been around a lot longer than I have, but if I may say so, I think you got the whole blasted thing turned around."
"You are being quite objectionable, Father Comstock."
"Objectionable, perhaps, but I notice that you do not say that I am incorrect in my assumption."
"I am waiting to see what your assumption may be."
"I think that disease is caused by sin."
"And you feel that this is different than saying that sin can cure disease?"
Was the old gent really an imbecile? Comstock wondered irritably. It seemed quite obvious to him that somewhere along the line the basic idea had been lost sight of, and the antithesis set up in its place.
"In one of the earth books I read there was a reference to what was called psychosomatic medicine. Now, if I understood what I read correctly, the theory of this kind of curing was that the person who was sick was punishing himself for some sin that he thought he had committed," Comstock said thoughtfully.
"Yes?"
"The cure then, was to assure the person that his sin was either non-existent or not heinous."