VI. Hypnosis May Lead to Disastrous Results

At the risk of repetition we wish to express again a word of earnest warning and appeal. It is recognized that not all use of hypnosis is tied in with Spiritualism. Not all hypnotists are Spiritualists. And while the nonhuman forces of Spiritualism assuredly use this technique, numerous professionally trained men in the medical field employ it as well. But the point that must never be forgotten is that the use of hypnosis by non-spiritists may well play into the hands of the evil one and his cohorts and lead to disastrous results. This danger is ignored only at grave peril.CFF2 1149.9

1. INSIDIOUS BREACHING OF THE WILL

Hypnotism is, of course, sometimes used by sincere persons for worthy purposes. But at the same time it should never be forgotten that any invasion of the defenses of the mind, any submission of its sovereignty to another, thereby insidiously weakens its powers of sovereignty and resistance, even though it be temporary and for worthy purposes. Such a procedure is an actual breaching of the soul’s defenses, even though the participants be unaware of the involvements. The mind belongs to God. Only He can read its thoughts and intents. Not even angels have that power or privilege. To surrender that citadel of the soul to another human being, for however commendable a reason, may in the end have devastating consequences, for it is an invasion of the mind.CFF2 1150.1

2. INHERENT PERILS OF HYPNOSIS

Professional men using hypnosis are not usually involved in direct spiritualistic phenomena, and would undoubtedly shy away from anything resembling such. However, the psychophysiological changes produced through hypnosis are universally recognized by physicians and psychiatrists to be based on a form of “capitulation” of one person’s will to that of another after strong suggestion. Moreover, the possibility of antisocial or criminal acts under hypnosis has been documented by numerous authorities.CFF2 1150.2

For example, Dr. Paul J. Reiter, lecturer on psychotherapy and psychosomatic medicine at the University of Copenhagen, refers, in a detailed case history, to a “guardian spirit” which ordered numerous criminal acts. By direction of this guardian spirit the patient actually became a member of a spiritualist society and of the “Society for Psychical Research.” ^{5454) Paul J. Reiter, M.D., Antisocial or Criminal Acts and Hypnosis-A Case Study, pp. 16-19. See also The Present Status of Hypnosis, “Impressions from the 116th Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, Atlantic City, May 9-13, 1960,” in Documenta Geigy. Also Pastoral Psychology, March 1962, pp 53, 54.} The patient had perceived the guardian spirit not as an auditory hallucination but as part of “hypnotic and mediumistic seances” carried on later in the form of suggestion while he was awake. Such is the potential peril of hypnosis.CFF2 1150.3