Scientology and hypnosis 4930424 211772205 2008-05-12T01:09:26Z Adoniscik 266283 /* Research claims of hypnosis in Scientology */ grr :| The [[Church of Scientology]] officially denies that it uses [[hypnosis]] as part of its [[Scientology beliefs and practices|beliefs and practices]]. It has nonetheless been subject throughout its history to accusations that it covertly uses hypnosis to gain control over its members. ==Hubbard's experience with hypnosis== Scientology founder [[L. Ron Hubbard]] was known to his associates in the late 1940s as a talented hypnotist.<ref name="secretlives">{{cite episode| title=L. Ron Hubbard| series=Secret Lives| credits=Robinson, Jill| network=A&E|airdate=1997-11-11}}</ref> During this period, he worked in Hollywood posing as a [[swami]].<ref>{{cite speech| first=L. Ron|last=Hubbard| title=The Story of Dianetics and Scientology, Lecture 18| date=October 1958}}</ref> The Church says that Hubbard's experience with hypnosis led him to create [[Dianetics]] as an alternative means to solve man's problems.<ref>Hubbard, ''What is Scientology?'', 1998 softcover edition, pg. 529.</ref> ==Research claims of hypnosis in Scientology== Some researchers believe that Scientology uses a form of what is called [[authoritative hypnosis]]. In much of his Scientology and [[Dianetics]] writings, Hubbard often redefined common words and invented new words. According to [http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Cowen/audit/ar18.html The Anderson Report], Hubbard has done this with hypnotic phenomena also. It is also believed that Hubbard has attributed spiritual significance to the results of the hypnosis. Among the terms that Hubbard has has used for documented stages of unconsciousness experiences in hypnosis are: *anaten *boil-off *dope-off *mental image pictures (hypnotic hallucinations) *exteriorization ([[Dissociation (psychology)|Dissociation]]) ==Official COS Statements on Hypnosis== The [[Church of Scientology]]'s official position on hypnosis is that it is a dangerous and undesirable practice, along with [[psychiatry]]. Whereas hypnotism's goal is to place a person in "a state of lessened awareness (i.e. trance)", Scientology's stated goal is to put people into the opposite state - one of higher awareness. <ref>Hubbard, ''What is Scientology?'', 1998 softcover edition, pg. 89. </ref> ==Controversy== Margery Wakefield, in her book ''Understanding Scientology'', noted the hypnotic nature of the extremely repetitive questioning done during drills in Scientology [[Auditing (Scientology)|auditing]]. These drills are sometimes done for several hours at a time, "until the preclear can do it without delay, without protest, without apathy, but with cheerfulness." <ref>Wakefield, Margery, ''Understanding Scientology'', Chapter 6.</ref> In his book ''The Creation of Human Ability'', Hubbard denied the hypnotic nature of the processes and drills. He stated: "(They) induce no trances. People who think so simply don't know much about hypnotism." <ref>Hubbard, ''The Creation of Human Ability'', 1st edition, p. 271</ref> A 2005 article in the ''[[Miami Herald]]'' quoted Scientology critic [[David Touretzky]] as saying "It's very clear that what they're doing is putting people into a light trance". This article also included comments from a man named Peter Alexander who said that after spending years undergoing the "hypnotic repetition" of Scientology, they began training him to communicate with "dead space aliens called [[Body Thetan]]s." <ref>Alter, Alexandra, "Scientology: What's Behind the Hollywood Hype?", ''Miami Herald'', July 2, 2005. </ref> ==References== {{Reflist}} ==See also== *[[Training routines (Scientology)]] ==External links== {{Portal|Scientology|Scientology e meter blue.jpg}} * [http://www.scientology.org/en_US/news-media/faq/pg053.html Scientology's Response to Accusations of Hypnosis] * [http://www.xs4all.nl/~kspaink/cos/essays/anderson18.html The Anderson Report - Scientology and Hypnosis] * [http://www.clambake.org/archive/books/tsos/sos-17.html "The Secret Scientology Sessions," another article on Scientology and Hypnosis] * [http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Cowen/audit/lee.html Lee Report on Hypnosis and Scientology] {{Scientology}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Hypnosis, Scientology and}} [[Category:Scientology]] [[Category:Scientology controversies]] [[Category:Mind control]] [[Category:Hypnosis]] {{scientology-stub}}