Differing Views on the Topic of Hypnosis
By Kelley Carrell
Those who practice hypnosis say, that it is a “natural state of mind” that it is “induced normally in everyday living” and that “all hypnosis is self hypnosis, and the power is in the mind of the person being hypnotized”. This information comes from Hypnosis.com which was started by American Pacific University . Hypnosis.com states that American Pacific University is a non-profit organization that is nationally recognized for its leadership in hypnotherapy education. The school offers “university level degrees” and instruction programs in hypnotherapy. The mission of the school “is to empower [their] students to transform their lives and for them to encourage transformation in others using holistic, complementary, alternative and integrative approaches to psychology and human understanding.”
The average reader may ask, “Why is this information important?” The information given here is important because it speaks to a realm of knowledge that the everyday reader probably does not deal with on a regular basis. The topic of hypnosis and related practices has loomed in a confusing cloud of mysticism pretty much since its existence. Kurt E. Koch, author of Occult ABC: Exposing Occult Practices and Ideologies, agrees by saying, for some people groups, religion and hypnosis go hand in hand. For example, in his book, he mentions “pilgrims in religious processions who, by means of self-hypnosis […] have made themselves insensitive to pain” (Koch 95). He goes on to say, “I have seen them stick knives or bamboo sticks through their arms or parts of their faces without feeling pain” (Koch 95-69). This practice of hypnosis seems outrageous, probably to American society, but there are people here who have been exposed to hypnosis, some voluntarily, some not.
Koch sites an example in his book about a young college student who was the son of a Baptist minister. His son had accepted Christ into his life and been baptized. He was currently attending college near home. Koch goes on to say, “At the end of the college year, an entertainment was held for the students and teachers” (Koch 97). Amongst the entertainers was an illusionist. He picked out twenty five students from the crowd to be hypnotized. The pastor’s son was one of the twenty-five and he was told ‘You are in a horse race, and your horse has the chance of winning’ (Koch 97). The boy began to pretend he was riding a horse. Koch continues with the story, “When the entertainment was over, the entertainer released them […] all except the pastor’s son, whom he could not restore to consciousness” (Koch 98). The parent’s found out about this ordeal and after a stay in the hospital, they took him home. The pastor and his wife decided to pray for their son and for days nothing changed.
“Suddenly, the pastor came upon the idea of commanding in the name of Jesus. He looked in Spirit to the cross of Christ on Calvary , and cried: ‘In the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, I command you dark powers to withdraw” (Koch 98).
Koch finishes the story with these statements, “At once the hypnotic spell was broken. The boy regained consciousness. At last the horse race ended” (Koch 98). This story openly shows the dark forces behind hypnotism.
So what does this mean for the Christian community? If the practice and use of hypnosis has dark forces behind it, then why are so many Americans, some Christians, flocking to hypnotherapists for help with psychological issues and bad habits like smoking and over-eating? Let’s take a look at what other sources have to say about the benefits of hypnosis, more specifically, hypnotherapy.
MSNBC.com in partnership with Newsweek, published an article in October titled, Tips for Treating Pain. The article recommends some healthy habits to practice like getting “adequate rest”, eating a healthy diet, and engaging in regular exercise for those who suffer from chronic pain. Then the article recommends some relaxation techniques which include “meditation, visualization, hypnosis, and biofeedback”. The article considers these practices to be “beyond prescription and over-the-counter medicine” and viable options for pain relief. It is understandable that someone who suffers from chronic pain may notice the above mentioned treatments as relief options, but what about all that goes on inside the process of hypnotherapy. Let’s take a look at what Hypnosis.com has to say about the inner workings of hypnotherapy.
In reference to hypnotherapy, Hypnosis.com states that first the client must want to change, if not, "long term success is very unlikely". The desire to modify their behavior must come from themselves. The author of the website (who is not credited) goes on to lay out his hypnotheraputic approach. "I use a positive approach, based on the client identifying the benefits of change." Again, the choice for change is put back on the client. "Hypnosis is used to sell the benefits to the subconscious before any suggestions are given”. The author continues, "If there is subconscious resistance to the more positive approach for ANY type of goal, a client-centered approach would be to ask the subconscious to reveal what the cause is so that it may be released". The question that is raised here is "If the power (of hypnosis) is in the person being hypnotized, then why is the client asked to let the hypnotherapist ‘sell’ or ‘suggest’ anything to their subconscious?” It seems that the client must give up some sort of control for the therapy to be affective or too even take place.
Some sources who disagree with hypnosis speak on its damaging affects. Martin and Diedre Bobgan, authors of Hypnosis and the Christian published in 1984, state:
“because hypnosis has always been an integral part of the occult, because it is not a science, because of its known harmful effects, and because of its potential for spiritual deception, the wise Christian will completely avoid it, even for "medical" purposes. It is obvious that hypnosis is lethal if used for evil purposes. However, we contend that hypnosis is potentially lethal for whatever purpose it is used. The moment one surrenders himself to the doorway of the occult, even in the halls of "science" and "medicine," he is vulnerable to the powers of darkness.”
The Bobgan's believe that hypnosis is harmful and even sometimes lethal if used for evil purposes. They site Deuteronomy 18:9-14 as an example passage that warns against seeking after enchanters, charmers, mediums, wizards, and those with a familiar spirit. The Bobgan's also display their belief that God’s desire is for His people to turn to Him when they are in need; not to go to those who “practice sorcery, divination, or enchantment.”
Author Kurt E. Koch, mentioned before, also speaks of the damaging affects of hypnosis in his book. In his book, he speaks of a man who “belonged to spiritist circles in Holland ” (Koch 99). The man was a part of an entertainment duo that would perform a trick which required a fencing foil to go through the man’s body. The man reported feeling no pain, his wounds did not bleed, and he was completely healed within two hours of being stuck. Some in the audience thought it was a trick so it was proven to be real. A professor at the University of Zurich asked the men to come to his clinic so he could observe one of the men putting the fencing foil through the other man. By testing through x-ray, Koch goes on to say, that the fencing foil did indeed go through the man and, somehow, did not damage any vital organs. The men continued to perform all around Zurich and believers in the area became very uncomfortable about it. “Prayer groups began to meet and pray to God to end these gruesome displays” (Koch 99). They suspected demonic forces were at work. The end result was that after performing this feat five-hundred times, the man who was to be stuck with the fencing foil died on the five hundredth and first performance. Koch finishes his story by mentioning that he believes the believers in that area obviously did not want the man to die but they did what they thought was right by “resisting […] “occult or even demonic, experiments” (Koch 99).
Those who believe hypnosis is a viable method for pain relief, therapy, and entertainment seem polar opposites to those who believe hypnosis is the work of dark forces. However, Hypnosis.com author and Koch seem to actually agree on a certain point concerning consent to hypnosis. As mentioned before, the author of Hypnosis.com stated that the client had to want to change (in relation to therapy) and Koch says much the same thing relating to consent. He states,” I have often been asked whether a person can be hypnotized against his will. Experience shows that people can not be hypnotized unless they consent.” For Christians who wish to arm themselves against hypnosis, he recommends prayer. “Against this, the hypnotist has no power” (Koch 100).