Spiritualism and Insanity (2 march 1920)

From The Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia

Spiritualism and Insanity is a letter written by Arthur Conan Doyle first published in The Southport Visiter on 2 march 1920.


Spiritualism and Insanity

Sir, — I willingly acknowledge the moderation of Father Thurston's letter. The fact is that when the strong wine of religious emotion comes to a neurotic it matters little what sect he or she may belong to, and we may all live in glass houses in this respect. The Catholic neurotic expecting stigmata, the Puritan brooding over predestination or, if you will, the Spiritualist indulging in an excess of occult investigation, are all in that unhealthy condition which over-indulgence in any line of thought may induce. I have, however, quoted figures and authorities which have, I hope, convinced your readers that Spiritualism can stand an investigation of this sort as well, to put it at the lowest, as any other cult.

Yours, etc.,

A. CONAN DOYLE
Windlesham, Crowborough, Sussex