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Question for WDTPRSers: hypnosis and Catholic teaching
I had a call from a priest friend who told me that for some High School seniors, who are having an end of the year school-sponsored "lock in" all night party – why, I can’t fathom – have scheduled, for entertainment, a hypnotist.
Now I of of the mind that perhaps… perhaps… in a clinical setting some use of some kind of hypnotism might be useful, say to stop smoking, etc.
But this is entertainment.
I have serious reservations about hypnotism.
It strikes me that it does not respect the dignity of the human person because it compromises in the will, in a sense.
Also, I believe that it could weaken a person’s resistance to demonic oppression. And if you don’t believe in the attacks of hell, you are a fool.
In any event, this is not the sort of thing I would want to have high school age kids involved with. As in occult activities, such as ouija boards, etc., there is no telling if some of the young people might then try to do these hypnotic things on their own and therefore open pathways for all sorts of dire influences. Just as ouija boards are not toys for entertainment, but rather tools of demonic influence, so too I fear that hypnotism, misused as a toy, could be the same.
I am especially concerned because of the age of the young people.
So, I did a brief search on line for solid documents on the Church’s understanding of hypnotism and didn’t come up with anything terribly useful.
I will enlist your help. Could you readers dig around a bit? Maybe we can have a discussion here about this issue. I would like to provide a resource online for others who may be faced with this problem.
Also, there is still time to get this party hypnotism thing cancelled for this event.
Please stay on topic with this. Let’s make this useful.
Father Zuhlsdorf,
Two hits on Google for your information:
An article archived on EWTN that is quite dated
A thread on the Catholic Answers Forum that is recent
It would seem that for a medical reason, hypnotism done by a trained and ethical therapist is reasonable. For “parlor tricks,” however, it would seem to be dabbling in New Age practices that could be dangerous.
[Links are not as helpful as link with your summary of what they say.]
Comment by Deo volente — 9 May 2008 @ 8:44 amNew Advent has an interesting article in their Encyclopedia about hypnosis. Mind you, it is nearly a century old now.
I recall a similar question arising while I was in High School Seminary. Referring to a current copy of the Catholic Encyclopedia. I seem to recall that great moral responsibility is placed on the person offering the suggestions. I also recall that there is some question as to how hypnotism affects the subject; i.e. while it lowers one’s inhibitions, it is not known whether it can cause one to do something they believe to be immoral.
Unfortunately, I don’t have the resources that I once had. I think it is prudent to spend some time researching the topic.
~cv
Comment by Chris — 9 May 2008 @ 8:52 amThis article in the online Catholic encyclopedia is useful, giving history, science and the Church’s tentative judgment:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07604b.htm
The Church has not waited for the verdict of science to put the faithful on their guard against the dangers of magnetism and hypnotism, and to defend the rights of human conscience; but, ever prudent, she has condemned only abuses, leaving the way free for scientific research. “The use of magnetism, that is to say, the mere act of employing physical means otherwise permissible, is not morally forbidden, provided that it does not tend to an illicit end or one which may be in any manner evil” (Response of the Holy Office, 2 June, 1840). The encyclical letter of the Sacred Penitentiary, Tribunal of August, 1856, only confirms this, and Père Coconnier has referred to it in his famous work “L’Hypnotisme franc”, in which he studies the subject apart from all extraneous considerations. Taking up the latest teachings of Rome, Canon Moureau, of Lille, writes: “Hypnotism is tolerated, in theory and in practice, to the exclusion of phenomena which would certainly be preternatural.” This is the opinion of most theologians, and it is the utterance of reason.
Comment by Robert — 9 May 2008 @ 8:53 amChurch has no stance on hypnotism, but urges all to beware of abuses (Archdiocese of Philadelphia)
This seems more topical; it is from a major Archdiocese and is recent.
Comment by Deo volente — 9 May 2008 @ 9:00 amRobert: That is pretty dated stuff, though useful.
We could use some more current information.
Comment by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf — 9 May 2008 @ 9:02 amHere’s an article from Catholic Standard and Times, especially relating to past life regression:
http://www.catholic.org/printer_friendly.php?id=25480§ion=Cathcom
Comment by Robert — 9 May 2008 @ 9:03 amhttp://www.catholicinsight.com/online/theology/article_653.shtml
This link is to an article by Dr. John B. Shea who writes on the New Age Movement and often comments on medical/bioethical issues. The final addendum is of interest:
MORE INFORMATION ON NEW AGE
Lorraine Vincent of Zehner, Saskatchewan alerted us to a publication of interest, Ransomed from Darkness: The New Age, Christian Faith and the Battle for Souls by Moira Noonan. Born into a Catholic family, Noonan lost her faith at a secular boarding school, and spent twenty years searching and ministering in the New Age movement. After mastering several successive “reprogrammings” and imparting the teachings to others, she was graced with conversion back to Catholicism through the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Deuteronomy 18:9-11 reads:
“‘When you come into the land which the Lord, your God, is giving you, you shall not learn to imitate the abominations of the peoples there. Let there not be found among you anyone who immolates his son or daughter in the fire, nor a fortune-teller, soothsayer, charmer, diviner, or caster of spells, nor one who consults ghosts and spirits or seeks oracles from the dead.’”
Noonan warns that: “If we were to write this same list in modern terms, it would include the following: Alchemical Hypnotherapy; Alchemy; Angel Guides; Angelic Channeling; Astral Cartography; Astral Projection; Astrology; Aura Work; Automatic Handwriting; Chakra Balancing; Chaneling; Clairaudience; Clairvoyance; Crystal Healing; Crystal Divination; Dousing; Echankar; Energy Work; EST; Etheric Light Body Work; Firewalking; The Forum; Geomancy; Hands of Light; Hypnotism; The “I Am” Movement; I Ching; Laying of Stones; Medicine Wheel; Necromancy; New Thought; Numerology; Out-of-Body Work; Past-Life Regression Therapy; Psychic Development; Psychic Healing; Rebirthing; Reiki; Shamanism; Silva Mind Control; Soul Travel; Spirit Guides; Spiritual Psychotherapy; Spiritualism; Table-Tipping; Tantra; Tarot Cards; Trance Mediums; Trance Work; Visualization; Wicca.”
Comment by Deo volente — 9 May 2008 @ 9:19 amI’m sorry, Father. It appears we commenters are duplicating our efforts almost simultaenously while in process of posting! You are welcome to delete my duplications.
Comment by Robert — 9 May 2008 @ 9:21 amLong before my conversion, I attended a similar event (organized by my school), and initially volunteered to be one of the subjects hypnotized. During the process of being hypnotized, I realized that I was to some extent handing control of my will over to the hypnotist. (I didn’t formulate it that clearly at the time, but reflecting back on the experience, I think that is what it was.) I felt some kind of instinctual repugnance to this, so I got up and left the stage. Many others remained, and I have no doubt they were really hypnotized!
It seems to me that voluntarily being hypnotized for the purposes of entertainment is akin to voluntarily becoming very drunk, or choosing to take drugs in order to get high. One is intentionally impairing the normal functioning and control of one’s reason (even if perhaps not completely losing the faculty to reason), and/or the rational self-direction of one’s will. In other words, one is deliberately becoming temporarily less rational, which is an act contrary to our nature as rational beings, and hence a sinful act. Obviously, there are times when drug-induced loss of one’s capacity to reason and control one’s actions is not sinful (e.g., anesthesia before medical surgery), and there may be analogous occasions when hypnotism might be licit, but to do this “for fun” seems to me to be essentially the same as getting drunk or high.
For that reason, I would say that it is morally wrong and sinful, and that no Catholic school should sponsor such an activity.
By saying this, I do not mean to minimize the danger of some kind of demonic or occult influence, but that, it seems to me, is a second issue. In other words, assuming you have a totally above-board hypnotist who is only using a natural process to induce a state of extreme receptivity to his suggestions, I still think this is morally problematic if done for entertainment.
It also might be easier to convince people of the moral problem here if we start with arguments about our nature, rather than arguments about the demonic (which, while true, may be less convincing to some).
Comment by Fr. D — 9 May 2008 @ 9:21 amUnder hypnosis a person does not lose their will – and you can not convince a hypnotised person to do anything contrary to their will – so that would make it very different from excessive drunkenness or drug abuse. Having said that – I would stay away from it regardless.
Comment by Jamie — 9 May 2008 @ 9:35 amAlthough I don’t have any official information about the Church’s teachings on hypotism, I do remember having one come and “perform” at my public high school. I think the great majority of the students thought it was the lamest thing imaginable, but our school seemed to think it “entertaining” for us teenagers. The act basically consisted of the hypnotist asking for volunteers. The volunteers were then “hypnotized.” Pretty much all the kids were faking it to get a laugh from the audience. The hypnotist would say silly things like “bark like a dog” and the “hypnotized” student would do so. Although I think the “hypnotists” we had were perfect charlatans I never thought what they were doing was dangerous, but simply stupid. Why any high school adminstrators or event planners or even a student council would pay a ridiculous sum to have one come is beyond me. However, if the kids were indeed forced to do things in front of the whole school not of their own will because they were hypnotized, then I think it is indeed dangerous. Entertainment should not consist of the humiliation of a high school kid. I can also see how it can possibly be dangerous. Perhaps not as dangerous as something like a Tarot card reading (which was also brought to my school—there’s public education for you!), but still I think should generally be avoided. Why not find something much more safe (and fun!) for a senior event?!
Comment by hoya2009 — 9 May 2008 @ 9:38 amHypnosis is only dangerous insofar as it is a voluntary surrender of one’s will to the hypnotist, with all that it brings. It is not evil per se, but can be used in evil ways, even with good intent. It is a potentially dangerous way of meddling with people’s minds, with their full consent.
Comment by Carlos Ramalhete — 9 May 2008 @ 10:32 amEven hypnotic addiction treatments can be very dangerous, as they will not cure the addiction itself. A typical treatment will block the impulse of using a drug or smoking, but the mental processes that lead to the urge will still be there, looking for a way out. The way out can end up being even worse than the original addiction.
Hypnosis for entertainment is not exactly dangerous in this sense, although it could hardly be called respectful or morally acceptable. It is akin to other imitations processes, such as when a crowd gets into a drums-induced dancing frenzy and people who normally would be relatively modest will perform lewd acts in public; it is at the very least a remote occasion of sin.
On the other hand, a good and sane hypnotist can use it to show people they have capacities they do not use normally (withstanding pain, remembering things, etc.), and this could occasionally help a spoiled teeenager realize he is capable of being and acting better; teenagers, though, will probably find it less interesting than having a friend pretending he is a dog or a chicken. :(
It must be noticed that the very same mental processes involved in hypnosis are what makes watching television seem “interesting”, even when the show itself is actually something one would never endure watching in the form of, say, a theater play performed in a public square. Television-watching is a “lite” form of hypnosis.
“During the process of being hypnotized, I realized that I was to some extent handing control of my will over to the hypnotist.”
Yikes! Reminds me of Hostage to the Devil by Malachi Martin.
Comment by Trey — 9 May 2008 @ 11:15 amAt my Senior All-Nighter we had a hypnotist. If you went to the all nighter you were required to attend the hypnotyst. Needless to say I was frustrating, I tried to opt out because I believe hypnotism in this form is the “gateway drug,” so to speak, of the occult. But I was not allowed to opt out because the organizers were cleaning up the rest of the facilities so we had to remain in the theater or leave the event entirely. I will definetly avoid things like that in the future.
Comment by Mitch — 9 May 2008 @ 11:19 amThe Vatican document, Jesus Christ, the Bearer of the Water of Life” raises some concerns about hypnotism in section 4. Granted, these concerns are mostly raised about the use of hypnotism in a New Age spirituality paradigm, rather than simply entertainment. Still, the concerns remain – what does hypnotism say about our individuality as persons, our free will, and our dignity? Hypnotism – even in the realm of entertainment – seems based on the premise that if only one could tap that well of inner power and break down the barrier – the persona society, culture and faith have built up around oneself, my near-limitless potential could be reached. It also seems to foster a notion of morality as mere cultural construct – we can “get away with” doing what we really want to do when we’re hypnotized – wh