Should Christians avoid hypnosis or benefit from it?
Christian hypnosis has stirred a lot of questions — at the very least, it can offer rest; at best, it may support personal growth.
HYPNOSIS ITSELF IS NEITHER GOOD NOR BAD. Used wisely, it can help Christians as much as non-Christians to break bad habits and improve themselves. There are many accounts in the Bible of saints of God entering trance-like states that parallel self-hypnosis.
In itself, hypnosis is neither right nor wrong. You can use a knife to cut your food or to kill someone. In the same way, discussions around Christian hypnosis raise important concerns about how believers approach mental and emotional healing. Some fear it; others explore it with caution.
You may be taking medication without realising it’s derived from plants used by ancient shamans for spiritual healing. Many top pharmaceutical companies have collaborated with tribal healers to identify these ingredients. Do we reject life-saving drugs just because their roots trace back to non-Christian traditions? Of course not.
Today, informed believers are engaging in thoughtful conversations about hypnosis for Christians, especially outside of entertainment, occult practices, or superstition. One Harvard study showed hypnosis helped broken bones heal faster and aided breast surgery patients in faster recovery. These findings have prompted many Christians to re-evaluate their views.
Opponents of Christian hypnosis often lack factual backing. Some argue that because we don’t fully understand how it works, it must be bad. But the same could be said about how thoughts form, why beauty exists, or how bees make honey. Just because something is not fully understood doesn’t make it wrong.
Myths and questions about being hypnotized
Q. Isn’t hypnosis hocus pocus? I’ve heard that it doesn’t work.
Actually, that’s a misconception. Some benefit more than others, and a few not at all, but most people reach a relaxed state after just a few sessions. Many Christians are now asking whether Christian hypnosis can be compatible with their values, especially if it’s used for personal development.
Q. As a Christian, isn’t it wrong to let someone hypnotize me, because I won’t know what they’re doing?
Consider this: Christians routinely allow doctors — even non-Christian ones — to anaesthetize them for surgery. In contrast, during hypnosis, people often remain aware of what’s happening. That awareness has led some believers to see Christian hypnosis not as spiritual surrender, but as mental focus with intent.
Self-hypnosis is especially interesting to those who are spiritually cautious. You can make your own recordings, choose your own words, and use them with prayer or Scripture. This is one reason the topic of Christian hypnosis keeps showing up in faith-based wellness circles.
Q. What about Deuteronomy 18:10-11? Doesn’t it condemn things like casting spells?
This is one of the most quoted verses against hypnosis, but the verse refers to divination and witchcraft. Hypnosis is not about casting spells — it’s about entering a calm mental state that supports change. Most people report that they’re aware and fully in control during hypnosis.
Q. Does hypnosis bring permanent change?
The results often last as long as you continue the practice. Some who explored Christian hypnosis used it to overcome fear, improve focus, or reduce anxiety before public speaking. Like any discipline, results fade if the practice stops, just like physical training.
Q. Any modern examples of hypnosis being used medically?
Yes, plenty. Alex Lenkei, a hypnotist in England, famously hypnotised himself during hand surgery — no anaesthetic, fully conscious. The example was widely reported and reopened discussions about medical uses of hypnosis, including among those researching Christian hypnosis from a health-and-faith perspective.
Q. Doesn’t hypnosis replace faith in God with faith in human methods?
No more than taking aspirin replaces faith in God’s healing. Christians thank God for medicine, and some also thank Him for the mental clarity and healing made possible through techniques like hypnosis, which they believe can be a tool, not a replacement for faith.
Q. What about other practices like yoga or meditation?
The mental state reached during hypnosis is similar to the quiet, relaxed space found in meditation — the difference lies in intent. In hypnosis, the focus might be on Scripture, personal healing, or spiritual reflection. It contrasts with practices like Transcendental Meditation, which often invokes non-Christian elements.
