HYPNOSIS AND RELIGIOUS FAITH

By Chaplain Paul G. Durbin Ph.D

A few years ago, I read an article in Family Weekly titled, "Boom Days For Devil Hypnosis" Hearing that title: what ideas, images, thoughts come to you? Though the article had what I considered a very negative title, it was infact a very positive article on hypnosis in the healthcare field. The only reference to the devil was in the last paragraph, "Some conservative religious groups consider hypnosis to be the work of the devil." 
Hypnosis is mistakenly viewed as mind control or demonic by many misinformed people. Recently I received a physician consult to work with a woman for pain management. As I explained the process of relaxation, imagery and hypnosis; I could see that she was very responsive. As I concluded my pre-talk, she said, "I am really looking forward to this experience, but I need to tell you that my daughter is a self-proclaimed born-again Christian and she may say something negative to you about this. If so, do not pay any attention to her, for I am the one who is hurting and I want this."
As I completed the induction, the phone rang. I told the patient, "Just allow the ringing of the phone and my answering it to add to your relaxation." I answered the phone, "This is Mrs. Doe's room. As she is in therapy, please call back in 30 minutes," and hung up the phone. 
When the procedure was completed, I walked out of the room and there was her daughter standing in front of the door with arms folded over her chest. She said, "What have you been doing to my mother?" I explained that I had taught her mother relaxation, self-hypnosis and pain reduction. She responded, "I am a born-again Christian." Before she could continue, I raised my hands and said, "Praise the Lord, so am I." She was speechless, so I continued, "I will bring you some information on hypnosis, but regardless of how you feel about hypnosis, your mother has found it very helpful in the reduction of pain." 
Some would say that there is no place in religion for hypnosis. I believe that hypnosis and religious faith can work hand in hand to bring about a better life. Jesus said in St. John 10:10, "I am come so you may have life and have it more abundantly." 
Though the title of this presentation is "Hypnosis and Religious Faith", I will be dealing primarily with "Hypnosis and Judo-Christian faith." Whether you are a Christian or not, whether you are religious or not, many of your clients come to you as religious people, most of whom will have a Judo-Christian background. The better you understand the client's religious history, the better you can relate to that person and help that person.
In our study of hypnosis and religious faith let us look at the history of hypnosis. Now I am not going to review the entire history of hypnosis, but would like to point out those incidents that relate to religion. What is the first written record of the use of hypnosis? The first written recorded use of hypnosis is found in the book of Genesis 2:21-22, "So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon man, and while he slept, took one of his ribs and closed up in its place with flesh, and the rib which God took from man. He made woman and brought her to the man." In this incident, God used hypnosis as an anesthesia so that Adam felt no pain during the removal of his rib. 
In addition to the reference in Genesis, mention of hypnotic techniques is found in other ancient sources concerning the Egyptian "Sleep Temples." In the temples, Egyptian priests used hypnotic-like procedures to improve health. These temples were so popular that they spread to Greece and Asia Minor. 
Chaplain W. Leo Peacock gives a number of New Testament illustrations of hypnosis in his paper "Religious Hypnosis and Personal Control." Chaplain Peacock makes a point with his interpretation of Matthew's account of Joseph's dream concerning taking Mary as his wife (Matthew 1:20-25). When Joseph discovered that Mary was expecting a child, he decided to break his engagement for he knew that the child was not his. The story told of an "angel" or "messenger" coming to Joseph in a dream. In this dream, the angel told Joseph to marry Mary. Upon waking, Joseph did as the angel suggested. Peacock writes that this is a clear description of an individual being hypnotized and while under hypnosis being given a post-hypnotic suggestion which he immediately acts upon as soon as he came out of the hypnotic trance. 
Paul speaks of going into a trance while praying in the temple (Acts 22:17). Peter "fell into a trance" and from that experience came to see that God loved all people and accepts all people who come to him. Peter had been invited to the home of a centurion who was devout in his faith, but was not Jewish. At that time, it was religiously unlawful for Peter to visit the centurion's house. After the dream, Peter went to visit the centurion (Acts 10:1-48). 
The practice of "laying on of hand," mentioned in the Bible, uses some of the techniques of hypnosis. In the book of Acts (28:8) we read, "And it came about that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with recurrent fever and dysentery; and Paul went in to see him and after he prayed, he laid his hands on him and healed him." Elsewhere in the book of Acts, there is a reference to an apostle looking into the eyes or gazing into the eyes of a person which resulted in the person being healed. "This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who when he had fixed his gaze upon him, and had seen that he had faith to be made well, said with a loud voice, 'Stand upright on your feet.' And he leaped up and began to walk." (Acts 14:9-10) 
In the Eighteenth Century, two Roman Catholic priest used hypnotic procedures and gained a reputation as healers. Due to their influence on Dr. Franz Anton Mesmer, they played a significant role in the history of hypnosis. Father Gassner would have those desiring to be healed brought into a room where they were told to wait. As their expectations mounted, Father Gassner would then majestically enter the room, lower his cross on the head of a patient and command him to sleep. The patient would collapse and upon command would rise praising God for healing. Father Hell used hypnotic techniques and metal plates. He believed that illness occurred when the magnetism of the body was out of polarization. He would have his patients lie down and pass metal plates over them. His suggestions and the passes of the metal plates seemed to cure those who came to him for healing. 
The modern history of hypnosis is considered to begin with Dr. Franz Anton Mesmer (1735- 1815) who was greatly influenced by Father Gassner and Father Hell. Mesmer came to the conclusion that it was the metal in Father Gassner's cross that caused the cures as well as the religious significance of the cross. If the metal in the cross could bring cures, perhaps any metal could be used for healing. With this information and experiments conducted by Father Hell in mind, Mesmer began to develop his theory of "Animal magnetism." 

In the middle of the 1800's, three doctors: Elliotson, Esdaile and Braid, who coined the word "hypnosis," used hypnosis in their medical practice. Both Elliotson and Esdaile performed many surgeries with only hypnotic anesthesia. It has been reported that the mortality rate for major surgery was about 50%. Of several hundred people operated on by Esdaile (using hypnosis) mortality dropped to 5% and in none of the fatal cases was the death an immediate outcome of surgery. 
Dr. James Esdaile (1808-1859) wrote that (1) hypnosis is a natural God-given method of healing. (2) The power produced by the unconscious mind of one under hypnosis is similar both in quality, character and degree with the power of the creator. (3) All men have within them special power given by God, the power of hypnosis -- to direct their movement and provide for themselves. 
Doctors Mesmer, Elliotson, and Esdaile were condemned by their fellow doctors for their use of hypnosis. At Dr. Esdaile's trial, one doctor said that the use of hypnosis was sacrilegious because God meant for people to feel pain. 
In recent years, hypnosis has become more acceptable, but we still have those who question its usefulness and others who mistakenly see it as a tool of the devil. One of our jobs is to enlighten those who doubt and convince those who oppose, so that more people may benefit by the use of hypnosis for a better life.

The foundation of my work in hypnotherapy is based on what I refer to as the human trinity. Whether you are a Christian or not, you would probably know what I meant if I referred to the Holy Trinity: God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. I also believe in the human trinity. Each one of us is a trinity within himself or herself. 
What is the human trinity? We are made up of body, mind and spirit. We are physical, emotional and spiritual being. These three aspects of our being are so different and yet so integrated that one part of the human trinity can not be affected without having some effect on the other two. If you have a physical problem, it affects you spiritually and emotionally. If you have a spiritual problem, it affects you physically and emotionally. If you have an emotional problem, it affects you spiritually and physically.
Paul saw the human trinity long ago. His understanding of our human trinity is demonstrated in the twelfth chapter of the book of Romans. St. Paul wrote, "I beseech you therefore bretheren by the Mercy of God, that ye present your body a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service and be not confined to this world (spiritual): but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1-2)
To some of the Greeks of Paul's day, it was the spirit that mattered for the body was only a shackle or prison house. The body was something to be despised and even ashamed of. Unfortunately, some religious people in our day feel the same way. It seems that in God's sight the body and mind as well as the spirit are important. The body is the temple of God, the place where the spirit of God dwells for Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God is within you." 
Paul calls upon one to offer his body in worship through a change in mind and spirit. "Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." The renewing of the mind calls for a change of attitude. It calls you to let go of any negative thoughts because they can be a block to living life to its fullest. God wants us to realize our talents, our abilities, our potential and with divine guidance to use them for our own good and for the good of others. He leads us to look into our hearts (subconscious) and minds (conscious) to see our potential and our possibilities rather than our failures and limitations. 
To accept the idea of body, mind and spirit in unity as being the total person, one can no longer separate life into the sacred and secular. Man is created in the image of God and is sacred for his body is the temple of God. The same God that created humans designed the universe. Therefore, every tree and blade of grass, every atom and molecule, ever fragment of truth is sacred. God's command to Moses on Mt. Horeb, "Put off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground." (Exodus 3:5) did not mean that only that particular peace of ground was holy. God was saying that wherever Moses, or you and I may be, is a holy place. 
With this understanding of the human trinity, hypnosis can be used as a bridge between the conscious and subconscious mind. Though you only have one mind, you have two parts to your mind: conscious and subconscious. The conscious mind is the logical, reasoning, analytical two plus two part of the mind. The conscious part of the mind makes up about 10% of your thinking power. The subconscious part of the mind makes up about 90% of your thinking power. It does not think logically and is concerned with bringing about your deepest wishes, desires and expectations even if they are contrary to logic and your own well-being. The subconscious mind does not care if your body hurts but rather that your deepest needs are met. If your greatest need is for affection and the only time you experience affection is when your are sick, you may get sick in order to receive the affection you need. This occurs even though you don't like being sick and the reason is unknown. It is interesting to note that the subconscious mind can not tell the difference between a wish and a fear. If a fear become dominant, the fear is received by the subconscious mind as wish. A woman was in the hospital because she had lost the use of her right arm. As she had gone through many tests and none had showed any reason for the cause of her problem, I was consulted. Through counseling, it was discovered that she had been physical abused, (not sexually abused) as a child. As a young child, as a teenager, as a young wife and mother, she vowed that she would "never ever" hit her child in anger. She had a five-year-old son and she had disciplined him when needed, but she had never hit him in anger. A few days before coming to the hospital, her little five-year-old song had been especially aggravating. He did one more thing and in anger, she hit him. As this was such a shock to her, her subconscious mind protected her against hitting her child any more by making her arm useless. 
As I felt that she needed to experience forgiveness, I used the following imagery. I suggested that she visualize herself walking down a country road. "On your back is a heavy backpack, but there is nothing in that backpack that you need for this journey. In fact, that heavy backpack contains the guilt you have been holding on to since you hit your son. God has forgiven you. He is telling you that you can now forgive yourself. You can be free of the heavy backpack. It is a decision for you to make. If you are ready to be free of that heavy load of guilt, one of your fingers will rise indicating that you have released the backpack and your guilt. 
The first finger of her right hand jerked upward and I said, "The backpack with all your guilt is gone. God has forgiven you and you have forgiven yourself. You are forgiven." I added the following post-hypnotic suggestion, (Note: I seldom use negative words in suggestions but this time I used some of her own words.) "Since as a little girl, teenager, young wife and mother you vowed that you would 'never ever' hit your child in anger and because of the trauma you have experienced, you need 'never ever' hit your child in anger again, therefore you have no need to be paralyzed. She left the hospital two days later completely cured. 
Accepting the theory of the human trinity, one understands that life is more than just being alive mentally and physically. To be the whole person that we were meant to be by our creator, we have to be alive spiritually as well as physically and mentally. An airplane does not cease to be an airplane when it sits in the hanger or taxies along the runway, but its true nature as an airplane becomes apparent only when it is airborne. Similarly, a person is a human being when he or she is functioning only on the physical and psychological plane, but one shows his or essential humanness when he rises to the spiritual dimensions. 
A man asked his three daughters how much they loved him. The oldest of them replied that she loved him more than all the gold and silver in the world. The father was noticeably pleased with her answer so he threw his arms around her and thanked her. The second daughter responded, "I love you more than the most valuable jewels in the world." He was pleased with her response too so he threw his arms around her and thanked her. The third and youngest said, "I love you better than salt." The man was not especially elated with her remark and dismissed it lightly as an indication of her immaturity, but nevertheless threw his arms around her and thanked her. His wife, their mother overhearing the conversation, left salt out her husband's next meal. As he ate his food, he was confronted with the deep meaning of his youngest daughter's statement. She was saying that he was the flavoring, the spice and the seasoning of her life.
Developing the spiritual aspects is like salt is to food. The spiritual dimension give flavor, spice and seasoning to all of life. 
When one is functioning in all three levels (physically, emotionally, and spiritual), life is more joyful, more productive and more healthy. Accepting this position, one can see the important place that hypnosis can have for us; physically, emotionally and spiritually. 
Each person has his/her own history: religiously, personally, and professionally. I come to you as a Christian Minister who looks upon hypnosis as a valuable tool of counseling. Coming from a religious profession and working in a church related hospital, I am often asked, "Why does one of religious faith need hypnosis?" or "How can you use hypnosis? Isn't there a a conflict between religious faith and hypnosis?" I believe that these questions can be responded to by referring to the statement of Jesus in John 10:10, "I am come that they may have life and have it more abundantly." Hypnosis is one of the gifts of God which help people experience the "more abundant life." 
Hypnosis is neither anti-religious nor pro-religious. It can be used for good or bad depending on the hypnotist and the subject. Today, most religious groups accept the proper ethical use of hypnosis for helping people. Exceptions are Christian Science, Seventh-Day-Adventist and some individuals of various churches. In recent years, the Seventh-Day-Adventist have lessened their resistance by using relaxation therapy and suggestion therapy. A hypnotist by the name of Quesby greatly help Mary Baker Eddy overcome an illness and she used many of his teachings and techniques in developing the Christian Science Church. Though Quesby used hypnosis to help her, she denounced hypnosis while using its techniques. Though many in various churches opposed to hypnosis are using the principles of hypnosis (relaxation, concentration, suggestion, repetition) in their healing services, they denounce hypnosis. For those who oppose hypnosis on religious grounds, I remind them of the words of Baptist Van Helmont, "Hypnosis is a universal agent ... and is a paradox only to those who are deposed to ridicule everything and who ascribe to Satan all phenomena which they cannot explain."
Then Roman Catholic Church has issued statements approving the use of hypnosis. In 1847, a decree from the Sacred Congregation of The Holy Office stated, "Having removed all misconceptions, foretelling of the future, explicit or implicit invocation of the devil, the use hypnosis is indeed merely an act of making use of physical media that are otherwise licit and hence it is not morally forbidden provided it does not tend toward an illicit end or toward anything depraved." 
The late Pope Pius gave his approval of hypnosis. He stated that the use of hypnosis by health care professionals for diagnosis and treatment is permitted. In 1956, in an address from the Vatican on hypnosis in child birth the Pope gave these guidelines. (1) Hypnotism is a serious matter, and not something to be dabbled in. (2) In its scientific use the precautions dictated by both science and morality are to be used. (3) Under the aspect of anesthesia, It is governed by the same principles as other forms of anesthesia. This is to say that the rules of good medicine apply to the use of hypnosis. 
Except for the exceptions noted, no other Protestant or Orthodox Churches have any laws against the proper-ethical use of hypnosis. To the best of my knowledge, there has been no opposition to the use of hypnosis in the Jewish faith when it is used for the benefit of mankind. Many of the Eastern Faiths: Buddhism, Yoga, Shintoism, Hinduism and others approve the use of hypnosis and they often use hypnosis in their worship. The Moslem religion has no opposition to hypnosis that I have been able to discover.