Hypnosis and the Divine

by Tim Brunson, PhD

As a major proponent of the scientific validity and clinical efficacy of hypnosis, I am often questioned as to the role of the divine in the hypnotic process. While on one hand I fully realize that mainstream medical and scientific practitioners justifiably use a scientific litmus test when evaluating concepts, there are still too much unexplained phenomena regarding the human experience. This is regularly dismissed prematurely or blindly advocated by enthusiastic believers. Conversely, however, repeatedly through history many myths – which by their very nature explain mankind's relationship with nature – have been explained once theory and the sophistication of measuring equipment become sufficiently adequate. Clearly this leaves room for the possibility that concepts involving a unity of the universe or another type of divine entity may eventually gain scientific acceptance. If so, the role of the divine in the hypnotic process should warrant relevant academic discussion.

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