Why do Adventists, Pentecostals, and JW's oppose hypnosis and meditation?

Answer 1

The above answerer was partly right when he mentioned the subconcious issue. We are to willingly follow Jehovah. When we decide to dedicate our lives to being Christian it is something very personal and important. To allow ourselves to be Hypnotised is similar to getting drunk, how can we be responsible for our actions and say that we are willingly following/giving of ourselves, to Jehovah if we don't even know we are. As for meditation, there are a variety of forms of meditation and purposes. Some could be considered innappropriate based on the methods used or the point of the meditation.

Answer 2

"There should not be found in you anyone who . . . binds others with a spell."—Deuteronomy 18:10, 11.

In recent years it has become common for health practitioners in some lands to recommend hypnotism as a treatment. For instance, the magazine Psychology Today states: "Hypnotherapy can treat headaches, ease labor pains, help you quit smoking, replace anesthesia, and improve study habits—all without side effects." On the other hand, many associate hypnotism with spiritism and the occult.

What is the Bible's viewpoint? Of course, the Bible is not a health textbook, and it does not comment directly on the subject of hypnotism. But the principles found in God's Word can help us determine God's view.
Is the claim that hypnotism is linked to the occult just a figment of someone's imagination? Fantasy tales in movies and novels may have nurtured the idea, but the connection between hypnotism and spiritism has a real basis. Regarding hypnotism, the Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology explains: "Its history is inextricably interwoven with occultism." Religious trances, which have been a part of sorcery and magic throughout history, are commonly viewed as a form of hypnosis. Also, the priests in ancient Egypt and Greece induced a type of hypnotic state when trying to cure illnesses in the name of their false gods.

god would also not be happy if we do something that was used on doing in the name of false gods
Collier's Encyclopedia states: "The hypnotized subject enjoys an undiverted concentration of his faculties, which makes him intensely attentive to the hypnotist's suggestions and cooperative in carrying out suggestions."
Does this sound harmless? Would it be advisable for a true Christian to let others influence his mind by means of hypnotic suggestions? This would be contrary to the apostle Paul's admonition: "Present your bodies a sacrifice living, holy, acceptable to God, a sacred service with your power of reason. And quit being fashioned after this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God."—Romans 12:1, 2.
Could a Christian "hold a good conscience," if he allowed himself to be put into a state where he could not fully control his thoughts or desires or even his actions? (1 Peter 3:16) The Bible admonishes: "Each one of you should know how to get possession of his own vessel in sanctification and honor." (1 Thessalonians 4:4) Clearly, hypnosis would hamper one's ability to follow such counsel

Answer 3

while I believe that adventists and jw's are cults of christianity and that pentecostals often make mistakes when they get caught up in their flesh emotions, I would say that they oppose it because hypnosis makes a person vulnerable to suggestions that contradict their faith. Their religions are about making conscience choices. Hypnosis is about subconsciously accepting suggestions.

Answer 4

It isn't very productive to point fingers in judgment at others. What is more wholesome is to simply explain some of the similarities and differences.

Within the Judeo-Chirstian traditions we find two overlapping pracices called prayer and contemplation. Prayer is a direct access to a spiritual entity higher/deity god higher than oneself. Contemplation is a prolonged period of conscious thought about a specific topic, usually a relgigious ideal or a scripture passage, ie: Trust in the Lord with all your heart/mind, and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs/bible.
From the standpoint of mental cultivation, both of these activities are exercises in concentration. The results of these concentrative practices may be for many
a calm, physiological slowing of the metabolism, and a sense of peace and
well-being.

Out of the Hindu tradtions comes yogic meditation, which is also concentrative.
The traditional basic exercises consist of focusing the mind on a single object - a stone, a candle flame, a syllable, and not allowing it to wander. Having acquired the basic skill, the yogic proceeds to expand his
practice by taking on more complex objects of meditation - chants, colorful religious images, energy channels in the body, and so forth. Still, no matter how complex the object of meditation, the meditation itself remains purly an exercise in concentration.
*However, in Vipassana {Mindfulness) Meditation concentration is also highly effective, as it is in the Judeo-Christian, and the Hindu traditions but a new element is added: Mindfulness/awareness!
This meditation aims at the development of awareness/mindfulness. Vippassana is a direct, gradual cultivation of Mindfulness.
It proceeds piece by piece, over a period of years. One does not empty himself, blanking out his mind, offering his mind over to evil entities to take control, which is the common misconception of many.
During Mindfulness Meditation, one's attention is carefully directed to an intense examination of certain aspects of one's own experiences. The meditator is trained to notice more and more of the flow of life experiences. Mindfulness meditation is a very gentle, very patient technique, which is very very thorough. It is an effective system of training your mind, a set of exercises dedicated to the purpose of becoming more and more mindful/aware of your own life experiences. It is attentive listening, mindful seeing, and careful testing. We learn to attentively pay attention to the changes taking place in all these experiences. *We learn to listen to our own thoughts without being caught up in them.
Through the process of Mindfulness, we slowly become aware of who and what we really are, down below the Ego image.
We wake up to what life really is. It is not just a parade of ups and downs,
of lollipops and smacks on the wrist. Life has a much deeper texture than that if we bother to look, and investigate in a skillful way. Vipassana {Mindfulness) is a form of mental training that will teach one to experience the world in an optimistically new way.

Have shared with you, and others reading this, about Judeo-Christain {this includes the religions you named in your question), and also shared with you the Hindu means of concentration.

Have also shared with you Vipassana or Mindfulness meditation as briefly as I possibly can.

**"Have also explained to you why some people may oppose Mindfulness meditation, due to a very misconception of what it is. And have explained what Mindfulness Meditation really is !"

I do not point any fingers of judgment at hypnosis, only make factual statements that Mindfulness meditation has nothing to do with hypnosis in any way. Hynosis is not encorporated into the practice and techniques of Mindfulness meditation.
Hynosis is an entirely different field from MIndfulness Meditation.

*Thank You for giving me the opportunity to provide you with "an" answer to your most excellent question.

**Have an Optimistically fantastic week, and coming weekend !**

Answer 5

I am guessing it would be because of the Bible telling us to flee from any form of sorcery, or magic. To meditate on scriptures, ponder the reasoning is not bad but to ask for help through magic is bad. I am sorry that is so clear it would be a bad sin.

Answer 6

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