Editorial July 16, 1955 Issue

HYPNOTISM NOT REMEDIAL

Helen Wood Bauman

One who understands something of the practice of Christian Science feels great concern when he hears of the growing tendency of the period to use hynotism for curing the sick or for stopping pain. Hypnotism is not truly remedial, because it involves the despotic use of mortal will, the power of one human mind over another. One can readily see the dangers of such a relationship, for it has no ethical or moral basis and can extend to great misuse. Whereas the basis of Christian Science practice is the fact of divine Mind's control of its own idea—man in God's image.

There is no hypnotism in the method of Science, but rather the revelation of the Father's beneficent relationship with His beloved sons. In fact, Christian Science breaks up human despotism and frees mankind from personal domination. Mary Baker Eddy explains the distinction between her method and that of the hypnotist in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" where she says under the marginal heading, "Science versus hypnotism" (p. 375), "The Christian Scientist demonstrates that divine Mind heals, while the hypnotist dispossesses the patient of his individuality in order to control him." And she continues a few lines farther on, "The genuine Christian Scientist is adding to his patient's mental and moral power, and is increasing his patient's spirituality while restoring him physically through divine Love."

If the qualities of Love, God, were not employed in scientific mental practice, Christian Science would not be able to bring about its remarkable recoveries. But the power of this religion rests solely upon the dominion of the divine over the material. Instead of using human will in order to change material conditions, Science demonstrates the divine will, which eliminates all that God does not create.

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