Hypnotism?

[dsm]

I am confused by Randi's statements on hypnotism this week. While I don't think he said anything wrong, I wonder if he passed over something about hypnotism. That is, is it possible to "deceive" a person under hypnotism? For instance, while a person wouldn't put themselves in danger by crossing (say) an old and rickety bridge, could the hypnotist convince the person that the bridge is new and solid and, thus, safe to cross? Or could a hypnotist "deceive" a subject into thinking a gun is just a toy and, thus, get the subject to commit murder? Other possibilities spring to mind, but you get the idea.

 

[Spektator]

I was wondering how the Catholic Church could have a medieval rule against hypnotism when hypnotism itself didn't exist before the 19th. century. It grew out of Franz Mesmer's bogus "mesmerism," the pseudoscience of animal magnetism.

 

[CERDIP]

I was wondering why its an issue that a Catholic school follows the pronouncements of their Catholic bishop?

Criticize the bishop all you want for his lack of critical thinking and wooliness and spouting the Church line. But criticize a Catholic school for playing along? I mean, if they didn't, then it wouldn't be a Catholic school, would it?

 

[ceo_esq]

I was wondering how the Catholic Church could have a medieval rule against hypnotism when hypnotism itself didn't exist before the 19th. century. It grew out of Franz Mesmer's bogus "mesmerism," the pseudoscience of animal magnetism.

What makes you think Randi knows (or cares to learn) any more about the Catholic Church than he does about hypnotism? Interestingly, the bishop's point (while based on sources that are at least 50 years old) is, in a very broad way, basically consistent with the American Medical Association's pronouncements on hypnosis: it should be undertaken only by a trained psychiatrist or psychologist (which implies discouraging the use of hypnosis for purposes of entertainment), and it does have some legitimate or potentially legitimate uses. Quitting smoking, etc., might not be among them, but the bishop's not dispensing medical advice, and that was entirely tangential to his point anyway.

Given the many available cudgels with which to beat the Catholic Church, I'm frequently astonished by Randi's apparent indifference or inability to distinguish between a sturdy one and a weak (or even completely ineffectual) one. He'll take them all.