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In a 2005 Encyclopedia Britannica article entitled, “The Study of Religion” it is stated
that an area of psychology currently being seriously considered is “the psychology of
religion.” I contend that this phrase would be more correctly stated as “the religion of
psychology.”
Sigmund Freud is generally recognized as the father of modern psychology. Freud
began his career using hypnosis, basing his early research on the work of Franz Mesmer
(1734-1815). Mesmer coined the term “animal magnetism” as a definition of his hypnotic
techniques. Our English word “mesmerize” is derived from Mesmer’s name. Freud later
renamed his treatment technique “free association,” which, as will be discussed later, is
merely a more benign term describing a more subtle form of hypnosis.
According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Carl Jung, building on Freud’s methods, spent
the latter part of his career studying what he believed to be the relationship between
psychology and religion.1 Psychologists, in their efforts to determine the relationship, if
any, between psychology and religion, have failed to recognize or admit that the
psychology they practice is, in and of itself, a religious practice.
We will begin by studying the hypnosis of Franz Mesmer, who defined hypnosis as
“animal magnetism” before the commonly used word hypnosis was adopted. Mesmer’s
“system of therapeutics, known as mesmerism, was the forerunner of the modern practice
of hypnotism”(Enclyclopedia Britannica, 2005).
Encyclopedia Britannica defines hypnosis as: “a special psychological state with
certain physiological attributes.”2 I intend to demonstrate that all forms and
specializations of psychology and psychotherapy have their roots in hypnotism and
employ some form and varying levels of hypnotic induction. Psychology meets one
dictionary definition of a religion. Psychology is merely a sophisticated, westernized,
modern-day practice of pagan religion.
Religion and Psychology Defined
Webster’s Dictionary defines religion as: “belief in God…usually expressed in
conduct or ritual…any specific system or belief…any object that is seriously pursued.”
Webster’s defines psychology as: “1. the science dealing with the mind 3. a system of
psychology.” And belief is defined as: “religious faith.”3 It is
important at this juncture to make the distinction between a simple, cognitive belief in
fact (2+2=4) and the human belief system, which is the core of our being. The type of
belief being discussed here is the human belief system.
Also of interest is the dictionary definition of psyche: “[Gr. Psyche, soul] Roman
Mythology a maiden who becomes the wife of cupid and is made immortal…” It seems
to me that Roman Mythology is definitely a form of religion. Also note that psyche is a
Greek word meaning soul.
The Origins of Psychology
As mentioned, Sigmund Freud is the generally recognized father of modern
psychology, who began his practice using Mesmer’s hypnotic techniques. Freud also
drew from the hypnotic techniques of French professor Jean-Martin Charcot. According
to David B. Stevenson of Brown University: “Freud eventually abandoned hypnosis…
Using the technique of free association, Freud asked patients to relate anything which
came into their mind… Freud's eventual practice of psychoanalysis focused not so much
on the recall of these memories as on the internal mental conflicts which kept them
buried deep within the mind, though the technique of free association still plays a role
today in the study of the mind.”4
The term free association is an important one. Using this technique, Freud would ask
patients to relate anything that came to mind. It is intended to create a catharsis, or
relieving of the emotions by transferring memory “from the unconscious to the
conscious” (Stevenson). Here we begin to uncover the real nuts-and-bolts, foundational
premise of all psychology and psychotherapy whatever the specialization – the
relationship between the conscious and subconscious mind. All modern forms of
psychology, psychotherapy and psychiatry are built on this foundational premise.
I intend to demonstrate that hypnosis, free association, psychology, psychiatry,
psychotherapy (such as EMDR), neuro-linguistic programming (Ericksonian
‘conversational’ hypnosis), dissociation/ dissociative trance state and catharsis are terms
so closely related as to be interchangeable regarding their dealings with the subconscious
mind. Further, I intend to demonstrate that all the subsequent terms listed have their roots
in, and employ elements of, the first, namely – hypnosis (hypnotic induction).
Hypnosis
There is no legal definition for hypnosis. In their book, Hypnosis and Behavior
Modification (pages 6-8), William Kroger, M.D. and William Fezler, Ph.D. note that
historically hypnosis has been an integral part of pagan religious practices and world
religions, such as Assyro-Babylonian exorcism, Egyptian soothsaying, Jewish Mysticism,
Byzantine Catholicism, Chinese Taoism, Sufism, Hinduism, Shintoism , forms of
Buddhism (Tibetan and Zen), and Yoga. They conclude that: “…hypnosis has been
practiced in one form or another in the civilized and uncivilized world under many
different labels since the dawn of history.” This observation is extremely important
because hypnotic induction is an integral part of all psychology and psychotherapy.
As stated, the modern, western practice of hypnosis began with Franz Mesmer, with
Freud later using the techniques of Mezmer and others. Freud renamed his hypnotic
technique “free association” but hypnotism remained an integral part of his technique.
Freud never rejected hypnosis, and saw “free association” as the natural evolution of his
earlier techniques.5
Though there is not yet a legal definition of hypnosis, it is generally accepted and
characterized by a substantially reduced ability to think rationally and a marked increase
in susceptibility to suggestion. Hypnotic induction is a “…shift in concentration,
executed in a passive manner (such as occurs in daydreaming or sleeping), resulting in a
state of consciousness distinguishably different from alertness… It is characterized by
narrowing of attention, reduced rational criticalness (Author’s note: reduced ability to
think critically), and increased response to suggestion.”6 I remind the reader of
Britannica’s definition of hypnosis: “A special psychological state.”
Roy Hunter, MS, CHt, one of the most respected authorities in the field of hypnosis,
has this to say about the definition of hypnosis: “To me, the most accurate way to define
hypnosis is to call it ‘guided meditation.’ Since many of us enter a meditative or ‘trance’
state while listening to music, watching TV, listening to a good speaker… or even while
reading… the hypnotist does not even have to be a live person.”7
One of the most respected authorities in the field defines hypnosis as simply “guided
meditation.” A psychologist or psychotherapist attempting to treat a patient is leading the
subject through a conversational exercise in guided meditation. And if every day
activities such as reading and listening to music are considered as a form of hypnotic
meditation, how much more so is a specific system of psychology designed to treat the
relationship between the conscious and subconscious mind? What follows “How
Hypnotic Induction Works,” are observations resulting from my personal research into
the dangers of psychology and hypnosis.
How Hypnotic Induction Works
1.) Indirect Hypnotherapy, developed by Milton Erickson, embeds hypnotic
induction techniques into conversation/communication/counseling, usually without
the knowledge or consent of the subject.
2.) Conversational induction techniques are employed (those that provoke strong
emotions or mental confusion are the most effective in overloading and suspending
critical thinking and thus bringing the subconscious to the forefront). Through the
introduction of selected stimuli, critical thinking is confused, overloaded and tends to
shut down as a safety mechanism, which brings the subconscious to the forefront.
3.) This induction produces an altered state, (also called dissociation and trance
state) in the subject.
Explanation: Our normal mental state has critical, logical thinking at the forefront and
automated responses (subconscious) in the background. Examples of subconscious or
automatic responses would be breathing and our automatic responses to certain
environmental stimuli.
Dissociated/Trance State
Subconscious/Automated Response - Critical Thinking
(Forefront) (Suppressed)
4.) Once this Dissociated State has been achieved, the practitioner then implants
suggestions into the subconscious/automated response system which tend to
become concrete in the mind of the subject (referred to as anchoring).
5.) These suggestions can be negative and destructive and anchored to stimuli
selected by the practitioner - which can result in automated, which would be, to a
certain degree, involuntary responses and behavior. This process needs to be
recognized and stopped early.
6.) And all of this can take place without the subject ever knowing or understanding
what is happening to them.
“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field...”(Genesis 3:1). The
above hypnotic process goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden, and is exactly
what the serpent used to deceive Eve. Additionally, all psychology and psychotherapy
employ the same basic formula, albeit generally with the knowledge and consent of the
client.
Dissociation – Trance State
Dissociate is briefly defined by Webster’s Dictionary as “to sever association with.”
Dissociation is also classified as hypnotic phenomena: “Hypnotic phenomena that are
common automatic responses… include amnesia, hyper amnesia, dissociation.” 8 In a
state of dissociation “there is a lack of integration of knowledge (Author’s note: decrease
in rational criticalness), memory, and voluntary control which is expressed as a feeling of
unreality and a change in the sense of self (Authors note: a trance state). Dissociation
characterizes not only PTSD, but many other altered states of consciousness, including
hypnosis and dreaming…. One way to explain the sum of the powerful effects of
hypnosis is to regard the hypnotic trance state as one of dissociation.” (Spencer, emphasis
added). Dissociation is a altered state of consciousness.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th Edition, 1994, is
published by the American Psychological Association and is the ‘bible’ of the field of
psychology. The manual states: “Dissociative trance involves narrowing or awareness of
immediate surroundings or stereotyped behaviors or movements that are experienced as
being beyond one’s control… the cognitive process (Author’s note: critical thinking) is
suspended as the subconscious comes to dominate the focus.”
Psychology
Interestingly, the statistical manual is a listing of dissociative disorders. The generally
recognized goal of the psychologist, psychoanalyst, psychiatrist, et al, is to treat/modify
behavior by bringing the subconscious (regressed/repressed memories and/or negative
behavior patterns of the mind) to the forefront in order to cleanse/heal/correct (referred to
as catharsis – emotional cleansing) negative behavior and/or the negative effects of
emotional and psychological trauma. But in order to accomplish this goal, the
psychologist must first bring the subconscious to the forefront by creating a state of
dissociation in the patient! It is the equivalent of creating more cancer in a patient in
order to more effectively treat that cancer! What a lovely, profitable, religious, self-
perpetuating racket. And the best part is that the modern witch doctors don’t even need to
beat drums or smear cow dung in their hair.
All forms and specializations of psychology use the above means in an attempt to
either replace the current belief system with a new belief system at the subconscious
level, or to integrate conflicting belief systems. “The client, not unlike those in more
traditional psychotherapy, continues to assess and challenge their beliefs…ego
strengthening can be progressively increased by exchanging negative beliefs for positive
beliefs… to ameliorate the effects of dysfunctional beliefs…” (Spencer, emphasis added).
Webster’s dictionary defines belief as: “religious faith.”
The newest fad in the field of psychotherapy is EMDR (Eye Movement
Desensitization and Reprocessing). At least the fads are becoming more honest; this
pshco-therapy uses eye movements to create the desired dissociation (trance state) in the
subject being ‘treated.’ It is more honest in that it is not far removed from the stereotyped
image of the hypnotist waving the pendulum in front of the eyes of the dupe (patient).
Another, more deceptive method of hypnotic manipulation, which has become
prevalent in the past twenty years, is Neuro-Linguistic Programming. This form of
‘conversational’ hypnosis was pioneered by Milton Erickson. “We're going to study
what's called Ericksonian hypnosis, after Milton H. Erickson. Ericksonian hypnosis
means developing the skills of a hypnotist so well that you can put someone into a trance
in a conversation in which the word hypnosis is never mentioned.” (emphasis added)9
The alarming (and revealing) thing is that Erickson’s methods are beginning to make
inroads into the field of general psychology.
Conclusion
A rose by any other name. Call it hypnosis, free association, psychology,
psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, EMDR, dissociation, NLP, occultism, pagan religion,
witch doctors or Betty Crocker – it matters not a wit. All (accept Betty Crocker) have one
common thread – the subconscious mind. In one way or another, and by whatever
means, all attempt to tinker with the human condition by influencing/treating the
subconscious mind by employing some form of hypnotic induction. And hypnotism has
its roots in pagan mysticism. All branches listed above are from the same trunk,
hypnotism, which in turn has its roots in pagan religion.
I will close with selected
quotes from authorities in the field.10
Psychologist Roger Mills: “The field of psychology today is literally a mess. There are
as many techniques, methods, and theories around as there are researchers and therapists.
I have personally seen therapists convince their clients that all of their problems come
from their mothers, the stars, their bio-chemical makeup, their diet, their lifestyle, and
even the ‘kharma’ from their past lives.”
Psychiatrist Sigmund Koch: “The hope of a psychological science became
indistinguishable from the fact of psychological science. The entire subsequent history of
psychology can be seen as a ritualistic endeavor to emulate the forms of science in order
to sustain the delusion that it already is a science.”
Psychiatrist E. Fuller Torrey: “The techniques used by Western psychiatrists are with
few exceptions on exactly the same scientific plane as the techniques used by witch
doctors.”
Carl Jung: “…we psychotherapists must occupy ourselves with problems which,
strictly speaking, belong to the theologian.”
Richard Feynman (Nobel Peace Prize): “Psychoanalysis is not a science [and it is]
perhaps more like witch-doctoring.”
American Psychiatric Association: “An experiment at the All-India Institute of Mental
Health in Bangalore found that Western-trained psychiatrists and native healers had a
comparable recovery rate. The most notable difference was that the so-called ‘witch
doctors’ released their patients sooner.”
Psychiatrist Thomas Szasz on psychology: “It is not merely a religion that pretends to
be science, it is actually a fake religion that seeks to destroy true religion.”
At the close of her abstract lauding the supposed benefits of hypnotic psychotherapy,
Constance Spencer counsels: “Occasionally a client will have difficulties imagining a
safe place and can be prompted to imagine their own ‘Garden of Eden’.”
To which I remark:
‘Complete with Resident Ericksonian Serpent’
1 “Jung, Carl.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 2005. Encyclopedia Britannica Online 26 Apr. 2005 .
2 “hypnosis”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2005. Encyclopedia Britannica Online 26 Apr. 2005
.
3 Webster’s New World Dictionary, Simon and Schuster, Div. Of Gulf & Western Corp., Rockefeller Center, New York, N.Y. 10020
4 Free Association in Freud and Hypnosis and Catharsis in Freud, Stephenson, David B., Brown University .
5 “Freud Sigmund,” “Hypnosis,” Baker Encyclopedia of Psychology, p. 430, 543.
6 “Freud Sigmund,” “Hypnosis,” Baker Encyclopedia of Psychology, p. 545.
7 “Hunter, Roy” TranceNet Journal, http://www.trancenet.com.
8 “Spencer Constance” Journal of Heart Centered Therapies, Spring 2000.
9 “Grinder John, Bandler Richard” Trance-Formations, p. 13
10 “Biblical Discernment Ministries” < http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Quotes/psych.htm>.
One Final Clarification:
All deception is rooted in some form of hypnotism.
Hypnotic phenomena are deceptions, and create dissociation.
Dissociation is the human physiological response to both external and internal deception (i.e., self deception and/or outside persons or influences attempting to deceive us).
When we sense harmful dissociative influence, it indicates either self-deception or that an outside person/influence is attempting to deceive us.
The only antidote to dissociation/deception is truth, which fosters critical thinking.
There is a definite relationship between deception and dissociation. Dissociation (hypnotism) is the vehicle of deception.
Email:shilohcomes@mychristiansite.com