Question:  Dear Greg,

            What does the Bible say about hypnotism?  Is it from God, or Satan?

            Thank you for your help.

            Erik

Answer:  Dear Erik,

            The Bible does not specifically say whether hypnotism is appropriate—or whether it is Satanic.  I have no specific scriptures to give you for my position, for there are none.

            Having said that, I am well aware that a case can be made against hypnotism by ascribing it to witchcraft, which the Bible condemns.  But the act of deciding that hypnotism is witchcraft would be an extra-biblical decision.  It may or may not be a correct conclusion, but if we take such a position we cannot say that our conclusion is from the Bible.  In a similar way, it might be said that hypnotism is an act of relinquishing the will to someone else, and that the act of doing so opens up an individual for psychological abnormalities, or demonism.  Once again, the Bible does say that we should guard our minds, that our battle is with spirits and principalities in high places, and it may be that hypnotism is an act of relinquishing control of our will and mind.  But the Bible does not definitively say so.  The inference might appear to be there, and it would probably be best to be extremely careful about allowing oneself to be hypnotized.  Why?  What is the purpose?

            PTM would generally urge caution regarding hypnotism—for documentation and studies reveal little to be gained, and we are treading on an area of the subconscious about which little is known specifically.  Having said that, there are some apparently positive results that have come from hypnotism used for health purposes, but it would seem that the jury is still out.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht