For many people the question about hypnosis is not “does it work?” but “is it permitted?” Some have been told that it opens the mind to harmful influences, that it means surrendering the will, or that it belongs with the occult.
These are sincere concerns and deserve a straight answer. This article sets out how the question has been approached. It is not religious guidance; for that, speak to a leader in your own tradition.
Where the worry comes from
- Its history. Hypnosis descends from mesmerism, which was wrapped up with invisible forces, spiritualism and séances.
- Its image. Stage shows and films present it as one person controlling another.
- Loss of will. Many traditions value self-control and freely chosen action.
- Fear of spiritual influence. Some believe that an altered state leaves a person open to harm.
- Association with other practices, such as past-life regression, which conflict with some faiths’ teachings.
What hypnosis actually involves
It helps to separate the technique from the things it has been mixed up with.
Hypnosis as used in healthcare is a state of focused attention in which a person responds more readily to suggestions they have agreed to. The person stays aware, keeps their values, can refuse any suggestion, and can stop at any time. There is no surrender of the will and nothing supernatural in it.
In that respect it resembles absorption in prayer, in music, or in a book.
The Catholic Church
The Catholic position has been worked out over a long period and is fairly well documented.
In 1840 the Holy Office in Rome was asked about “magnetism.” It replied that the mere use of physical means that are otherwise permissible is not morally forbidden, provided it does not tend towards an illicit end or anything evil.
In 1856 the Church issued a condemnation, not of the practice as such, but of its abuses: its use for superstitious purposes, fortune-telling and the like.
In the 1950s Pope Pius XII addressed doctors on painless childbirth and on anaesthesia, and his remarks have been understood as accepting hypnosis in the hands of a physician for a serious medical purpose.
Catholic commentators today generally summarise the position like this:
- Hypnosis is not intrinsically wrong.
- It may be used for legitimate therapeutic reasons, with a competent and trustworthy practitioner.
- Prudence is needed, since the person entrusts something of their reason and will to another for a time.
- Using it for frivolous purposes or entertainment is discouraged.
- Using it for occult purposes is not acceptable.
Other Christian traditions
Views vary widely.
- Many mainstream Protestant churches have no formal position and treat medical hypnosis as a matter of conscience and good sense, like any other treatment.
- Some evangelical and Pentecostal groups advise against it, on the ground that Christians should not yield control of their minds.
- A few denominations discourage or reject it more firmly.
Judaism and Islam
Both traditions place a high value on preserving health and on seeking treatment.
Rabbinic authorities who have considered the question have generally permitted hypnosis for genuine medical need, with a trustworthy practitioner.
Among Muslim scholars, opinions differ. Some permit hypnosis as a medical treatment when it is free of anything forbidden. Others are cautious or opposed, particularly where it is associated with claims about unseen forces.
Buddhism and Hinduism
Both have long traditions of meditation and focused attention, and many followers see no conflict. Some teachers distinguish between practices aimed at insight and techniques aimed at changing a habit, without regarding the latter as wrong.
Common threads
Across traditions, the same distinctions keep appearing.
| Generally acceptable | Generally a concern |
|---|---|
| A serious therapeutic purpose | Entertainment |
| A qualified, trustworthy practitioner | An unknown or unaccountable one |
| Informed consent | Being hypnotized without understanding |
| Suggestions consistent with your values | Anything contrary to your beliefs |
| A secular, medical framing | Occult or spiritualist framing |
If you are deciding
- Ask your own faith leader. Explain that it is for a medical or psychological purpose.
- Be clear about what it is for: pain, anxiety, a medical procedure.
- Choose a health professional who uses hypnosis as a clinical tool.
- Tell the practitioner about your faith. A good one will respect it and adapt.
- Ask what will be said. You can see the suggestions beforehand.
- Ask for imagery that fits your beliefs. Many people use a place of worship, a passage of scripture or a prayer.
- Avoid practices that conflict with your faith, such as past-life regression or spirit communication. These are not part of clinical hypnosis anyway.
- Bring someone with you if it helps.
Alternatives if you decide against it
There is no need to act against your conscience. Much of what hypnosis offers is available in other forms:
- Relaxation and breathing exercises
- Cognitive behavioural therapy
- Guided imagery without a formal induction
- Contemplative prayer or meditation within your own tradition
A word to practitioners
A client’s faith is not an obstacle to be argued away. Ask about it, respect it, use language and imagery that fit, and never suggest anything that conflicts with it.
The bottom line
Most religious traditions that have considered the question draw a line between hypnosis as a tool of medicine, which is generally accepted with prudence, and hypnosis mixed with entertainment or the occult, which is not. If you are unsure, ask within your own tradition. Clinical hypnosis asks nothing of your beliefs.
Next in the series: A Self-Hypnosis Script for Sleep
This article is for general information and is not religious or medical advice.