Hi,

I'm a bit nervous about writing this thread but hopefully God will give me a bit of courage so here goes.

Individuals from my local church and many other churches in the area are getting together to do an 'alternative therapy' festival with a christian spin on it. This very high profile event is due to be held in May. It is designed to educate people that there are many therapy techniques and methods available the can help them that do not have their basis in the occult or strange practices from other religions.

My question is, obviously there are ok therepies out there but until I can attend this festival and see for myself, I'm not sure as to what is acceptable and what isn't in the Christian domain. There seems to be conflicting advice on the subject.

My specific concern is that I'm successfully following a sensible eating programme designed by a hypnotherapist. Much of it involves an individuals approach to eating consciously and not what they eat. A small part involves visualisation techniqes to eliminate food cravings I would like to know if this part of the programme is acceptable or not. As at bible study today one lady suggested that I should steer clear of anything to do with hypnosis.

My dilema is that this new approach is helping me to relax around food and has also had a positive effect on alleviating my nervousness around people and had the side affect of me losing a few pounds, even though I'm eating the same food. It seems to be giving some very positive results but I do not wish to continue if it is compromising my faith. Is it safe to continue with the programme, is hypnotherapy ok?

Any views on the subject would be appreciated thanks.

Nice to catch up with everyone again, I've missed you all.

God Bless

Love Eve

I can give you a link to an article that might answer some of your questions, not saying if I fully agree or disagree with the author, because I havent actually given much study to this subject, tho i`m keenly interested it it. I am a little familiar with Deepak Chopra, and the art of meditation, again, withholding any comment because I wouldnt know what I was talking about:) I will say if Gods Word does`nt forbid something, we have no right to forbid it either, no matter how theological our argument may sound! Many things in this life, that are not addressed in Scripture, come down to personal conscience, and choice.

http://www.probe.org/content/view/16/65/

There is a book that can be purchased online that might be interesting; "Alternative Medicine The Christian Handbook "

"An in-depth guide for Christians seeking to understand and evaluate the medical and spiritual implications of alternative practices, herbal therapies, and self-treatments available today."

http://www.zondervanchurchsource.com...SBN=0310235847

Thanks that's really useful. I'll go and have a read of those sites now.
As for references in the bible, I have heard that hypnosis might be refered to as hypnos but I don't know where I might find it in the great book.
TTFN
GBU
Love Eve

Hypnosis is something that Christians should not take part in. First, let's look at the definition of hypnosis as defined by a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist:

"Hypnosis is the most effective method of changing the way you think, feel and act. When you align your subconscious mind -- your inner voice -- with your conscious mind, you erase conflicting beliefs that hold you back. You can then move forward, without sabotaging yourself. Clinical hypnotic techniques guide you to a relaxed, peaceful state of mind. You remain in total control while learning how to use the power of your full mind to create a strong desire to accomplish your goal. You can change your life."

Hypnosis has been used in eastern mysticism for many many years (Hindus, Buddhists, Yogis, etc.). Please read this excerpt from Bible Discernment Ministries (material not copyrighted):

Although a hypnotist may encourage only a light or medium trance, he cannot prevent a hypnotized subject from spontaneously plunging into the danger zone, which may include a sense of separation from the body, seeming clairvoyance, hallucination, mystical states similar to those described by Eastern mystics, and even what hypnotism researcher Ernest Hilgard describes as "demonic possession." We would argue that hypnosis is occultic at any trance level, but at its deeper levels, hypnosis is unmistakably occult.

Hypnosis began as part of the occult and false religion. The Bible speaks out strongly against all practices of false religion and the occult. God desires His people to turn to Him in need, not to those who practice sorcery, divination, or enchantment. He warns His people about following after mediums, wizards, enchanters, charmers, and those who have a familiar spirit (Deut. 18:9-14).

Hypnosis, as it is practiced today, may very well be the same as what is identified as "enchantment" in the Bible (Lev. 19:26 KJV).
In hypnotism, faith is shifted from God and His Word to the hypnotist and his technique. God speaks to people through the conscious, rational mind. He commands individuals as creatures who make conscious, volitional choices. He sent His Holy Spirit to indwell Christians to enable them to trust and obey Him through love and conscious choice. Hypnosis, on the other hand, operates on the basis of imagination, illusion, hallucination, and deception. Jesus warned His followers about deception. After a person has opened his mind to deception through hypnosis, he may become even more vulnerable to other forms of spiritual deception.

Hypnosis can generate Satan's counterfeits of true religious exercise. If hypnosis generates any form of faith and worship not directed toward the God of the Bible, any person who subjects himself to hypnotism may be playing the harlot in the spiritual realm. (See Lev. 19:26,31; 20:6,27; Deut. 18:9-14; 2 Ki 21:6; 2 Chron. 33:6; Isa. 47:9-13; Jer. 27:9.)

Are people in the church being enticed to enter the twilight zone of the occult because hypnosis is now called "science" and "medicine"? Let those who call the occult "science" tell us what the difference is between medical and occultic hypnosis. And let those Christians who call it "scientific" explain why they also recommend that it be performed only by a Christian. If hypnosis is science indeed, why the added requirement of Christianity for the practitioner? There is a scarcity of adequate long-term studies of those who have been hypnotized. And there have been none which have examined the effect on the individual's resulting faith or interest in the occult.

The moment one surrenders himself to the doorway of the occult, even in the halls of "science" and "medicine," he is vulnerable to the powers of darkness.
-------------------------
I hope this information is helpful. Any therapy involving visualization techniques I feel is also entering into a dangerous spiritual zone.

I had never been interested in anything to do with alternative therapies until I became ill and the doctors said that there was nothing more that they could do for me.

If conventional medicine couldn't help me, then I would look around for an alternative was my attitude, and if it was available in my area, I tried it. Nothing however worked.

My question relates to something that I have read today which suggests that these are all evil. Is that true? If so I need to confess it to God.

I hope that somebody will be able to advise me on this because I HAVE NO IDEA IF IT IS RIGHT OR WRONG!!!!!!!

Hi Brighteyes,
I will have to look for the post you read to see exactly what was said in it.
However, I will say that as a child of God we are never to participate in anything that goes against the written word of God. I'm not sure what alternative therapies you are talking about, but I would tell you to stay in God's word because He (Jesus, the Word of Life) is your All-in-all. It would help us to answer you more accurately if you are more specific about the therapies to which you are referring that you have checked into personally. There are many things out in the world that "offer help," but really lead into a life of deception. Just keep asking questions here because there are many here who are really grounded in the Word of God and will help lead you into truth. The Truth not only sets us free, it keeps us free as we walk closely
with Jesus.

I have been in a church that offered "alternative therapies" and had many
things that I didn't have peace about that were being taught. God's word
is His will and many times I think people are trying to go around God's
word (conviction, repentance, giving up our will and our ways for His will and His ways) to get results they want. I think the church needs to be very, very careful. It is interesting to hear some of the labels being put on things only to research back and see where the roots are originally. God really doesn't make His word a secret, it's just that we must be His child and enter into His secret place (personal communion with Him) to understand His Word and His Will.

Paul prayed in Colossians 1:9-15
9 - "For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 - that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being
fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 - strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all
patience and longsuffering with joy;
12 - giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the
inheritance of the saints in the light.
13 - He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
14 - in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of
sins.
15 - He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation."

I pray these verses over myself and God's people because I know this kind
of praying is His will and will be answered.

James 3:13-18 talks about demonic wisdom verses Heavenly wisdom.

Pray His Word it is His Will!

Submitted with much love and concern for the children of God!

Well, thank you Kingskid for your replies.

However, what I had read about alternative therapies this morning was not the posts that my thread has been added to. If it had been these, I would have added my post to it myself!!!!!!!!

I am now even more confused ...

In answer to your question, the alternative therapies that I have tried include:

massage
Indian head massage
acupuncture
hypnosis
homeopathy
reflexology

You wrote:

"God really doesn't make His word a secret, it's just that we must be His child and enter into His secret place (personal communion with Him) to understand His Word and His Will."

THAT IS SO HARD TO DO WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH TO TAKE ON BOARD ALL AT ONCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hynosis is definately out, I will do a search on the others, but I knew this was wrong, because I was reading up on it, a while back.

Here is something from Gotquestion:

Question: "Should a Christian ever get involved with hypnosis?"

Answer: Hypnosis is problematic for a Christian for several reasons:

1) The fruit of the Spirit is self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). As we follow the Spirit’s lead, He will give us the power to better control our own selves. Hypnosis involves the transfer of control, away from ourselves to another person.

2) We are to yield ourselves—body, soul, and spirit—to God. Romans 6:12-13 gives us the formula for overcoming sin: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God . . . and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” It’s about control—as Christians, we can let sin control us, or we can let God control us. (See also Romans 6:16-23; 1 Corinthians 6:9-12; and James 4:6-7.) The scriptural formula leaves no room for hypnosis (yielding ourselves to a fellow human being).

3) Hypnosis leads to an altered state of consciousness in which the mind is very susceptible to outside suggestion. That susceptibility is what the hypnotist needs in order to modify the behavior of his subject. However, the very word susceptible should concern us. Scripture says to be watchful and “vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The hypnotist is not the only one who wants to modify our behavior; Satan also wants to do some modifying, and we should be wary of giving him any opportunity to make his suggestions.

4) Hypnotism is often promoted as a simple way of “refocusing” ourselves and finding the answer within us. As believers in Christ, our focus is to be on our Savior, not on ourselves or anything else (Hebrews 12:2). We know that the answers to not lie within us (Romans 7:18); the solution we need is found in Christ (Romans 8:2).

5) Many of the techniques used in hypnosis are shared by mystical, philosophical, and religious systems, including the occult. The “father of hypnotism,” Franz Anton Mesmer, was himself a practitioner of the occult—his method of inducing a trance was very similar to the way a medium conducts a séance. Hypnotism, along with Yoga and Transcendental Meditation, has always been linked to spiritual darkness. The newfound respectability of these practices has not changed their underlying nature.

Thank you for posting this about hypnosis. Even at the time when I had hypnosis, I felt uncomfortable with it and wary of what was happening.