Is Hypnosis a Sin?

[Blissman]

Is Hypnosis a Sin?

 

[GuelahPapyrus]

I don't get how it could be, it's just self-suggestions after entering a state of relaxation, am I wrong?

 

[Myah]

I don't think it would be considered a sin by most Christian's I know. I know a few who have used hypnosis to quit smoking. And I've heard that it can be very helpful with trauma therapy.

 

[revolutio]

I have been hypnotized and have hypnotized two other people (long boring summer afternoons). I don't really see what would be sinful in it. If you tried to manipulate a person and make them do things against their conscious wishes then it would certainly sinful. However to label hypnosis itself as sinful seems a bit like the typical negative reaction to something that isn't understood.

 

[Salsa_1960]

I agree with "revolutio." Hypnosis could be used in a sinful way by trying to persuade a person to do something that might be wrong, (though from what I understand it isn't possible to hypnotize a person to do something against their will), but I can't see hypnosis itself as a sin. It simply helps a person explore and examine their subconscious and as was mentioned in Myah's post, this can be very helpful for people who have been through traumatic experiences. And if probing into that area of the subconscious can help a person quit smoking, that's wonderful too.

 

[Lyle]

I know it is often used in pagan worship, as a means of speaking with spirits... Personally I believe there's strong demon-possesion involved.. Since whatever you convince the person to believe is in that sense real.. Like if you were to tell a person in that state, that they were holding a jar, they would feel and see it.. Even though it reality it's not there... You can tellthem they are being scatched by a cat, being done before, stratches will start appearing on them; In spite the fact no animal is near...

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Back in my occult days it was taught that everyone is in a different level of consciousness. Hypnosis was just a method to move from one level to another, up or down.
While I do not agree with the terms, methods, and goals any longer.... I do think that the human psyche in very flexible and can be manipulated with or without your knowledge or will. I now think that people exist at different "levels" of mental focus fixed upon different objects. This is a natural thing that some people like to play with, sometimes to their hurt. It may just be the interaction of the left and right hemisphere of the brain... I notice when I am drawing that I "phase out"... wherein time seems to pass very quickly and surroundings fade. Like a deep daydream. I dunno.... just babbling.

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

yes, it is a sin because it relinquishes a certain amount of control over to another. God commands us to be in full control of ourselves at all times. And then there's the altered state of consciousness. Why would they do that?

 

[Dracil]

No. Based on what I learned in my Consciousness clas, you can never be coerced by hypnosis to do something that you yourself don't want to do. Thus, a defense claiming that you committed a sin because someone else made you do it through hypnosis is invalid.

As a side note, it's also been shown that hypnosis has a greater effect on people who daydream more, fantasize about stuff, have more vivid imaginations, etc.

 

[Captain Jackson]

This is a very interesting thread for me. I work as a cameraman for a public access station, and on one of the first nights I worked a group of four people came into the studio to discuss hypnosis. One of the four was a hypnotizer, and said that he was a "very ardent follower of Jesus Christ." He noted that some of his clients had religous questions about hypnosis. He believes that "since God gave us this special part of the phyce" it is alright. He even mentioned that he believes God put Adam under hypnosis when he took his rib out to make Eve.

 

[Myah]

yes, it is a sin because it relinquishes a certain amount of control over to another. God commands us to be in full control of ourselves at all times. And then there's the altered state of consciousness. Why would they do that?

No offense, but dreaming can be considered an alternate form of consciousness. As far as I know, most people aren't in complete control of themselves during most of their dreams. (i'm not including lucid dreams). What about self-hypnosis? That doesn't give control over your psyche to anyone.

 

[Dracil]

No offense, but dreaming can be considered an alternate form of consciousness. As far as I know, most people aren't in complete control of themselves during most of their dreams. (i'm not including lucid dreams). What about self-hypnosis? That doesn't give control over your psyche to anyone.

Good point about dreaming being an alternate form of consciousness. This also goes for intoxication, and even sleep deprivation!

 

[Bonhoffer]

Hypnosis in my veiw is no worse than listening to music. Both attept to alter your mood and state of concousness, and thus effects can be both negative and positive.

So whether music or hypnosis is sinful depends on how it is used. Some music can be used to uplift someone whos suffering from depression, just like hypnosis can be used to combat drug abuse. Similarly music (esp rap) can encourage violence, vice and Sin just as bad hypnosis can lead someone from Jesus.

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

Even if what this person told you is correct, that makes it even worse because the subject is still submitting to having his state of consciousness altered, and to obeying the suggestion of another during this altered state. God does not want this for His people.

 

[Lyle]

No offense, but dreaming can be considered an alternate form of consciousness. As far as I know, most people aren't in complete control of themselves during most of their dreams. (i'm not including lucid dreams)

yet, did not he say that you give some control of yourself over to, KEYWORD: Another

 

[revolutio]

(though from what I understand it isn't possible to hypnotize a person to do something against their will)

When under hypnosis a person is extremely susceptible to outside influence. They have virtually no thoughts of their own hence they are sometimes only able to be woken by command and not physical disturbance. Even if someone normally has moral qualms over something. Those morals will likely never show up if they are instructed to do something under hypnosis. I suppose if someone had their morals excessively ingrained into their persona they might make a person able to resist someone else's will while under hypnosis, but it certainly wouldn't be easy.

That being said, it is, as far as I know, impossible to hypnotize someone against their will. It is also very difficult if the person does not trust you or is uncomfortable in the situation.

As far as actions, I have never gotten a person to stand up under hypnosis. All their actions seem to be muted. I have gotten information from a person but I had to ask several times because they answered so softly and with such a slur. I have gotten people to freely move their arms legs and head.
The susceptibility of someone to hypnosis also varies greatly. Some people are virtually impossible to get to go under. Others are completely non-responsive once under hypnosis. It all depends on the person's personality and mindset.

 

[Dracil]

As has been stated, hypnosis can never make you do anything that you yourself do not already want, demonstrated under controlled experiments, as opposed to anecdotal evidence showing otherwise. That's why it's effective for treating addictions, or for experimental studies like increasing the tolerance of pain, but is not effective for stuff like making you go murder someone or steal some stuff.

Or, to put it simply. Hypnosis as mind control is nothing more than a popularized myth.

 

[Havoc]

If hypnosis is a sin then why do so many Christians use the results of it to "prove" the existence of Satanic Ritual Abuse?

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

They fit into one of two categories: either they don't know better, or they do.

 

[Bonhoffer]

Stage hypnosis is probably wrong, but hypnosis for tobacco addiction is probably okay.

However if someone has the Holy Spirit to help them I dont know why they would need to be hypnotised.

It is better to ask God to help you give up!!