HYPNOTISM WITHIN THE ADVENTIST CHURCH:

  Above all-Keeping thy heart with all diligence;
for out of it are the issues of life. {margin) Pr 4:23

PART EIGHT OF TEN

And who is his audience in this lecture? It is an assemblage of Seventh-day Adventist ministers! This particular tape is from a "pastor's workshop" held by Loveless in southern California. On the tape he mentions that he has given this meditation instruction to Adventist pastors and workers all over the country and all around the world!

Unabashed, he strongly urges Adventist ministers to go back to their local churches and begin a training program in group meditation with their church members, which, he says will take a couple months to condition the members to accept. But they are to persevere. At the beginning some may object, but, he assures them, if they will stick to it within a couple of months their congregations will come to enjoy the meditation sessions, and will emotionally depend on them for their spiritual lift.

Before he begins the instruction, he apologizes for church pews (he is giving this instruction in a southern California Adventist church), and says all church seats should have arms and swivel around so members can see and speak to one another in church, "so there can be action," and they are not locked into merely facing the speaker up front and being silent.

He then tells them to stretch their arms, get into a comfortable position, shut their eyes and begin meditating about a Bible scene that he mentions. (He never lets them imagine on their own; he always tells them what they are to dream about.) After a lengthy pause, he tells them to imagine their faces are becoming limp and heavy. He tells them to relax their faces, their bodies. Throughout all this, he speaks very calmly and slowly. From time to time, he switches from one meditative topic to another. Perhaps this is for variety; perhaps to confuse the mind and lower resistance:

"(He tells them to visualize being at one of the incidents recorded in the Gospels.) (A lengthy pause of about 2 minutes.) "There comes a knock on the door of your house, and Jesus is there." (1   minute silence.) "Then the two of you go into the living room, and sit down together, and the two of you begin to talk." (1 minute silence.) "In your imagination, visualize someone outside your family who has been like Jesus. Picture them clearly in your mind's eye." (2 minute silence.) "You go into the kitchen to prepare food, and Jesus stands in the doorway. Soon you sit down together to eat." (1 minute silence.) "Then Jesus says He must leave. After He walks out the door, down the path and off through the garden, you softly dose the door, and stand there thinking." (1 minute silence.) "Amen." (1 minute silence.)"-William Loveless, Ministerial Workshop, Southern California.

Some of the following are not exact quotations from the original tape, but are always very close to the original. He then continues:

"Let's talk a few minutes to debrief our exercise. Let's tell what we saw or heard or felt. (Pause while he waits for audience response.)"-Ibid.

A pastor in back stands up and tells about what he felt like, but most of it is inaudible on the tape. Then three others speak, but the tape did not record them well either. By the sound of their voices, most of the audience comments seem to express appreciation, although, as we will note below, a couple were wondering somewhat about the implications and possible dangers.

"[Responding to someone's comment) "Yes, it's good for children. It's a good children's story for church (service) to lead them in a meditation. (More inaudible comments.)

"Take out a piece of paper and write a three-sentence journal entry reflecting on this experience for yourself. (Silence for 31/2 minutes.) Now, if you choose, share with the group-your peer colleagues here -part or all of your journal entry.-Ibid.

Several comments are then given by audience in appreciative tones, but are not clearly audible. Then; apologizing that there is only one microphone, Loveless repeats several of the comments just after they are spoken, the second of which is frankly astounding, when you realize that it is coming from a mature Seventh-day Adventist pastor:

" 'I am gratified to be able to experience this today.' (pause) 'It was comfortable not to be responsible for guiding myself.' (pause) 'It gave me new strength, courage and faith.' (Pause.) 'I felt very negative feelings arising, but this was probably helpful in helping me accept this new experience.' "-Ibid.

Then after another pause, Loveless continues. You will note that this unified meditation, which he had earlier called an "exercise," he now refers to as "a corporate prayer." That is what the pastors are to call it, when they go back home and urge it upon their church members. You will notice that he is essentially teaching a similar type of self-centered visualization that the NPL instructors teach, while giving beneficial reasons for doing so.

"Okay, let me recapitulate what I've done in this meditation, and why: I've tried to model for you what you should do in your church. If not every Sabbath, at least once a month you need to lead them in this kind of corporate prayer.

"This (type of meditation) is what the great mystics of the ages have told us about. I was the corporate leader and you were the ones doing it.

"Many times I will tell them (the Adventist audiences I have do this), 'Visualize some of the homes you have (in the past) lived in.' Sometimes I have them draw pictures of them [the homes]. This helps them visualize. Take various things for them to picture; this lends their minds to imaging.

"I said "Picture someone who has imaged Jesus to you.' This helps them get acquainted with people in their life.

"Then we pictured Jesus departing. Some people feel uneasy about that. Jesus leaving. They think He's always with them. That helps us face one of life's great problems: taking leave. That helps us take leave; an important task in life:'-Ibid.

Then he comes to something, which he considers to be very urgent: writing down a brief "journal entry" during the church service immediately after imaging things. He explains that this is extremely important, and it will help the congregation begin meditation sessions at home on a regular basis, all the while keeping a day-to-day journal, which it is important that they read over from time to time. This journal will have all kinds of things in it, including hopes, thoughts of disbelief, mentions of sin, but Loveless considers the writing of this and later re-readings of it to be essential. Not once in this lecture does he say there should be separate or accompanying Bible or Spirit of Prophecy study. Reading our own vague ramblings is considered far better.

He also considers "journaling" by the members in the church services to be important in conditioning their minds more rapidly. Initially they may perceive dangers to such an activity, but by writing down something, they are personally taking part. Having done so, they will tend to accept and defend what they have done. In this way their minds are conditioned over several weeks to look forward to, and even emotionally depend on these emotionally inward-turned meditations.

"And then, very crucial; there is the journaling. Even in the group like this, the anxiety level is fairly high. People can panic. You have to get your congregation structured (conditioned]. This takes time, and then the anxiety level is low when you go through things like this with them often enough. They learn to understand and do what is expected. As you continue these imaginative exercises, they will become gradually trained.

So I said, 'Take out your pencil and give me a three sentence journal entry.' This is crucial. If they aren't practicing daily meditation, such as we've done it today, and don't journal, they will go dry and won't keep doing it. They will quit. There's no other option; they must journal daily; at least 2-3 times a week.

'I have two folders at home, 2 inches thick each of the journals I've made over the years. And I still do it; I have to do it.

"If you don't journal, you won't get anywhere. If your congregation doesn't journal, they won't get anywhere. And you can't teach them how, if you don't do it yourself." Ibid.

The Holy Spirit convicts no one to enter upon these emotional self-studies and the writing down of feelings and moods. So Loveless tells them that it is only the inscribing of the fantasies and ideas that will keep this thing continuing effectively.

Then he explains the great benefits of the meditations, all of which sounds like an advertisement for a New Age product, not for the kind of earnest, self-sacrificing Christian experience we find in the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy: "If you do it yourself, it will help your brain wave production; it will help you relax, study better. You'll relax more. Everything is benefited by this. There are physical and spiritual benefits that are profound for you. If you don't do it every day, nothing will work out right; if you do it every day, everything will.

"Some days you won't have much to say, [and) write in your journal. Other days, you'll go asleep and dream. Every day's different. If you get negative thoughts, record that too in your journal. That's important! Write the bad down too.

"(Question:) 'What do you do with it afterward?'

"I read it. Read it all over. Very personal. I don't share it with anyone! Would frighten my wife. All the good and all the bad; it's very personal."-Ibid.

Then, at last, a pastor arises with a question of concern. But Loveless brushes it all aside as no problem. He appears to be summarizing it in this way: (1) The Adventist position on this has not been clarified; we even lack a definition of terms. Our lack of understanding on where we stand is itself a protection. (2) Yes, New Age and spiritistic channeling are making heavy inroads out in the world, but fear not; God will protect us so we do not need to worry. (3) Besides, people seem to be helped by what I am teaching them to do. (4) The only reason that the New Agers and Spiritists are winning so many to their side, is because we have not been active in teaching the people this meditation I am showing you today.

"(Question:) 'Is this like transcendentalism (Eastern transcendental meditation)?'

"This isn't the place to discuss all this. The Adventists brand of imaging isn't defined yet. There is New Age and channeling, but as I travel around giving workshops on meditation, some people are nervous, but it's no problem. Our people are protected. As I travel around teaching meditation here - and allover the world,- people are pretty much helped. I haven't run into no problem. There are crackpots out there, but the problem is that we haven't gotten in and filled this vacuum, and others have gone in." Ibid.

There then follows a few practical questions and replies:

"(Question:) 'When should this occur in the church service?'

"During the pastoral prayer. I had you write a three sentence journal entry. What I was doing was structuring your responses, so you would have something to respond with. And that's how you do it with your church.

"You know you're going to do this [next Sabbath] in your church, so you have paper in the racks, or ready to be handed out by the ushers, and pretty soon people get used to praying [meditating silently] in this fashion. Then writing it down and sharing it publicly.

"It takes a few weeks of practice to get used to this corporate prayer [silent group imagining, after being given thoughts by the pastor to imagine about]. Once they do it, it's a very happy experience of corporate prayer. It takes 10-15 minutes each time, but you're teaching them how to deal with silence, how to be creative, how to deal with Scripture.

"(Question:) 'How long?'

"I'd say 10-15 minutes during the church service. "(Question:) [Inaudible.]

"Yes, yes, It's very important. You're all aware of the learning curve experiences; how it takes so many repetitions to learn something.

"So the same simple instructions must be given each time, so they will learn." -Ibid.

It was the B.F. Skinner-type of conditioning experiments, carried on for decades with pigeons, mice, and white rats, that provided the basis for this learning curve research. In order to condition the church members, change them over--from a healthy life of personal prayer and study, obeying what they read, and earnestly living and working for others, to morbid, introspective imaginative sessions, writing down whatever came to mind during those inward sessions, and treasuring and reading them over--and keeping this kind of activity ongoing, surely will require some heavy conditioning until they become gradually addicted to getting their emotional high from dwelling on their own feelings.

"(Question:) 'Have you found there is a change of attitude toward this as you keep doing it?'

"Yes, they come to want it, enjoy it. I often have the children come up and imaginatively think. 'What kind of animals would you like to touch?' etc. They are very imaginative. It really turns them on." Ibid.

That marked the end of this instructional training for Adventist pastors in group meditations during the church service. In closing, here are some facts about this that we should consider:

(1) As we learned earlier in this lengthy study, In their book, Frogs Into Princes, Richard Bandler and John Grinder clearly state-and successfully demonstrate that this inward-turning to think about oneself is the ideal way to place hypnotic suggestions into people's minds. They explain that, when such a person is so introspectively deep in thought, it is quite easy to carry him on into a hypnotic trance.

(2) They also show that, even without putting him into a trance, this state of being so inwardly deep in thought can be used to implant in the subject hypnotic decisions, behaviors, fears, and likes, that the subject himself did not originate!

(3) We have consistently observed that Ericksonian hypnosis is based on getting people to follow the lead of the operator. He tells them what to do and they do it. Thus, even if this Loveless-type meditation does not immediately result in hypnotic suggestions being made. The person, by doing it and redoing it. is preparing his mind so he can more easily be hypnotized later when an Ericksonian operator enters into casual conversation with him. In some respects, that is the most dangerous aspect of these group introspective meditations.

(4) An Ericksonian-trained pastor could easily combine Loveless group meditation with Ericksonian suggestions and, while the congregation is turned inward at his command, hypnotically embed suggestions in the entire group!

YOGA HYPNOSIS REQUIRED AT ANDREWS

Several months ago, a friend discovered a new book among the "required course texts" at Andrews University, in Berrien Springs, Michigan. The Book is entitled "Becoming a Master Student," and is published by a South Dakota publishing firm. ("On Becoming a Master Student" See the proof)

This 344-page 8 x 11-inch soft cover textbook retails at Andrews for $19.95, and is a "required textbook for all entering students" at the university and its seminary. Because a single class could not contain all entering students, three separate classes under three separate professors teach this required course.

This book instructs the students in hypnotic devices, Yoga and New Age concepts, as well as several other non-Christian beliefs. Every individual in North America who desires to become a Seventh-day Adventist minister must attend Andrews University. In addition, a large number of overseas future pastors attend Andrews also, knowing that it will help them advance in the work back home when they graduate, more than if they merely attended one of our British, French, Australian, or some other Adventist college.

For the most part, a majority of the future officers and world leaders of our church will have graduated from the undergraduate, graduate, or seminary division of Andrews University. For its size, Andrews has a disproportionate influence on the world field. That which is taught there affects the entire world work of Seventh day Adventists. This book is not merely required of entering students as "supplementary reading," It is not collateral reading, but is a required study textbook! That means it must be carefully read, all or most of it will be discussed in class, certain portions may be memorized, and several tests will be given on it. A final examination at the end of the term will prove that they have "mastered" the master book for those who would study into deeper light.

With all this in mind, let us briefly consider the teachIngs of this required textbook:

The cover and title page place one word in the book title in a lurid script-form: "Master", In Buddhist. Zen, and Hindu theology, the "master" is the one who instructs the novitiates into the deeper theology; into those esoteric facts which are hidden from the general public. The master is the person who introduces the students into the dark secrets, and shows them how to apply the inner mysteries of the cult to themselves and those they will later be priests to.

There are two strange code symbols used repeatedly throughout this book. All one need do is open almost at random and thumb two or three pages and he will see one or both of them. It would appear that these codes are placed there to assure anyone who has already studied somewhat into the mysteries of the Eastern religions or the pretensions of Western New Age seminars and books, that he has before him an "approved" book which will provide ancient light to modern readers.

In the opinion of the present writer, only teachers who have dabbled in New Age concepts, or who see nothing wrong with it, could require such a textbook as required study by all entering students at Andrews University! The administrators in charge at Andrews, who are permitting required books such as this for the students, must either also be into New Age teaching, or totally asleep! If the latter, then they need your earnest letters of protest!

The first of these two symbols is first shown on page 12-13, as an immense pencil, which is twisted into a horizontal figure-8 pattern. Mathematicians use this symbol to represent "infinity." But that symbol came through Arabic sources from the Hindu. In the Far East, Hindus and Buddhists share a number of concepts in common. (Keep in mind that Buddhism originated in Hindu India. Gautama Buddha (c. 563-483 B.C.) grew up as a Hindu). One of these is this horizontal double circle. In the East, it is the symbol for "reincarnation." The wheel is greatly venerated in the Eastern religions, for it goes round and around, seemingly without beginning or end. When portrayed in pictures, it is referred to as the "Wheel of Life." Thus, it is a counterfeit of God, who alone hath immortality and eternity both past and future. Yes, His own children will, by His gracious permission, experience eternal life after the Second Advent, but they have not lived forever in the past.

On pages 12-13, and again on 14-15, this reincarnation symbol fills the lower half of two pages: Each of these two two-page pencils are 5 inches high and 11 inches wide. Then, on page 16 and 18, this figure-8 pattern again appears, somewhat smaller (2 inch by 4 inches). Aside from those four appearances, this Hindu symbol appears 91 more times, prominently displayed in outer margins most of the time, so that upon initially thumbing through the book, the New Ager can see the code which identifies the book.

The basic meaning of the horizontal figure-8 is "infinite reincarnations." It is horizontal; one is not ascending upward, but sideways. One life after another. Each life is a wheel. The wheels are joined in a horizontal "eight," rather than merely adjacent horizontal "double-zeros." One life leads through reincarnation into another. The pencil is important, for it shows that careful study, careful application will provide the key to achieving that Hindu/Buddhist goal.

PART NINE OF TEN

The second code symbol is a totally naked woman, with breasts showing, sitting in the Yogi position, amid three triangles and a circle.

From the best we can tell from the ancient records, Hinduism is one of the oldest forms of religious error known to mankind today. It has come down. with hardly any change, since just shortly after-or at-the tower of Babel incident, which occurred within a couple centuries after Noah left the Ark (c. 2348 B.C.). Local witch-doctor and animist teachings may change, but sun-worship and Hinduism go back farther than all the other false religions of mankind.

The central teaching of Buddhism is that pain and evil are caused by desire, and the conquest of desire leads to the attainment of Nirvana, The good student lives for himself; fitting himself, through proper education and study, to reach that Buddhist heaven of pleasant nothingness, called "Nirvana." Yoga is but a Hindu device for attaining Hindu objectives.

"Yogi" means one who practices Yoga or believes in it. The name "Yoga" is the religion itself (although not generally called a "religion" by its adherents). Thus, "Yogis practice Yoga." The central concept in Yoga would be this: A system of mental and physical discipline practiced by Hindus in order to become free of the senses and the external world, so they can reach ultimate reality.

The idea here is that you, your senses, your conscience, and your actions and behavior are not really "reality." Reality is some strange blankness beyond. According to Yoga, by using certain methods of study, and by using certain techniques of physical position or movement, you can achieve that peculiar world, outside the senses; a world of Hindu emptiness. You can see from these definitions that the studies and objectives of both Yoga and Hinduism are very similar.

Non-Hindus also practice Yoga. In classes in America and Europe, New Age instructors teach Westerners that the practice of Yoga will help them improve their mental and physical health and increase their powers of concentration.

This book provides the reader with an introduction to "certain methods of study. By showing him pictures of this naked woman in a yoga position, more than half-ahundred times in this book (generally in the top outer margin-so you will see it as soon as you open the book), the New Ager can be assured that this large paperback contains genuine Hindu concepts for the student of Eastern lore, and worthwhile introductory material for the student of Western cultural background who needs this enrichment as a means of helping him toward Eastern goals.

We have considered the concept of the infinite reincarnations, symbolized by the double horizontal-circle pencil. Let us now examine the meaning of the second of these two prominent symbols:

This unclothed woman in Yoga position appears 56 times in this book. Wherever you turn in the book it seems to be prominent. Closer examination reveals that, in addition to black ink, a second color, blue, is used throughout the volume. But, each time, it is only a light (screened) blue, or light blue mingled with gray (screened blue and black). The exception is this woman in the circle, which is always in full bright blue. It is intended to catch your eye. No Seventh-day Adventist school should use a book that has 56 pictures of nude women in it! But, aside from that, the religious significance is powerful:

The woman is seated in the "lotus position. " The lotus is a large, showy flower of any of several plants of the water lily family. The white lotus is venerated in the East as a symbol of reincarnation. The "lotus position" is the cross-legged position you see in the seated statues of Buddha. The area of her sex organs is completely within one triangle aimed downward. The Iower-half of her brain, and her primary sensory avenues-her eyes, mouth, ears, and voice box-are within a second one aimed downward. She is seated entirely within a third triangle aimed upward. The double downward triangle, representing certain portions of the body, has six points, six sides, and six angles (the three aspects used in geometry for thousands of years). So we have here the 666 within the body. The body, because and only because of its Yogi lotus position, can be placed within a third triangle pointing upward. Yoga thus purifies the body. The triangle is placed within the Wheel of Life, the eternal circle of reincarnation. The two triangles are pointed downward. For a Hindu, they are pointed to the thousands of gods below. The one triangle pointed upward, for the Buddhist, are pointed to Buddha; for the Hindu, to their three most powerful gods: Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer. This 2-down and 1-up triangle set is a variation of another "mixed-up" triangle set; that of the double "Solomon's Seal" up-and-down triangle, which originated not in Judaism. Because both triangle sets are mixed-up (pointing both up and down) each represents confusion or Babylon.

There is another interesting aspect to both of these symbols, which together dominate 151 of the 344 pages in this book: Below the reincarnation pencils is written "Journal entry #1", etc. Below the Yogi symbol, "Exercise # 1" etc. We can understand "exercise, " for Yogi exercises are called just that. Yogis do the lotus position in order to gain enlightenment. This book has, what it calls, an "exercise" below each Yogi symbol. Each exercise consists either of a pearl of wisdom or a physical activity you should do, apparently to become a better student, more relaxed, etc., but actually to initiate you into Eastern religion! We will, below, give some examples of Yogi "exercises" from this book, which every entering student at Andrews University must read.

Why would it say "Journal entry" below each reincarnation symbol? You may recall that, elsewhere in this lengthy study, we mentioned the well-known Northeast liberal Adventist college president who has congregations meditate, and then tells them to write down what they saw while their eyes were closed, as "journal notes. " It is obvious that he has been reading books on Yoga meditation, for he is using the very same vocabulary!

The East, which is the birthplace of hypnotism, is a land of inward-turned religions. Both Buddhism and Hinduism are very self-centered, self-oriented. They are taught to think about themselves a lot, keep notes on their thoughts, place their bodies in certain positions, breathe a certain way, and imagine special things. This is supposed to enable them to rise to higher levels, so that in the next life they will be reincarnated as a higher order of animal. Thus, their probationary years pass and these poor souls finally go down to death, unprepared for eternity.

As with modern Adventist audiences, under the influence of their new hypnotic counselors, the Buddhists and Hindus were not taught to come to God in repentance of their sins, they were not taught how to put them away and obey the Ten Commandments in the strength of Christ's grace, they were not taught to go out and minister to the needs of others. They were just told to meditate and think about themselves, their feelings, their moods, their breathing, and their sitting positions.

In addition to the Yogi exercises and the reincarnation journal entries, there are also chapters in this book. At last, something we are used to: chapters! Here is part of one of them: The 2-page chapter on 294-295 is entitled, "Contribution: The Art of Selfishness. "

"This book is about contributing to yourself-about taking care of yourself-about being selfish. The techniques and suggestions in this book focus on how to get what you want out of school and out of life. The net result of all this successful selfishness is the capacity for contribution, for giving to others. . You can't contribute love with being filled with love yourself. This book is about filling yourself, taking care of yourself. As you do that, contribute also to others. Contributing is the one thing left, and it completes the process."-Becoming a Master Student, page 294.

So that is the purpose of the book: to teach you how, initially and foremost, to selfishly care for yourself, first how to gain your own pleasures, and after that give a thought to others. But did you catch the second concept brought out in the first three paragraphs of this chapter, Quoted above? You do not gain love from God, you do not gain it by doing good to other human beings, you do not gain it from any person outside yourself at all; you first gain it from the type of Hindu/Buddhist concepts and exercises within yourself, which you are introduced to in this book. THEN you have "love," and are able to share it with others. Yet such a concept is not only totally foreign to Christianity, but even to worldly life! It is New Age. Everyone knows that love comes from God and/or others, by giving and receiving, receiving and giving. But not with ascetic Hinduism and monastic Buddhism. Live to yourself and practice the cult, and that might produce enough "love" that some of it can be shared with others.

As we have gradually noted throughout this study, self hypnosis is always integral to paganism. So we can expect to find it in this book based Hindu/Buddhist philosophy. On page 78, we find one of the 56 nude Yogi women. Just above the symbol is written: "Exercise #11." Just below the symbol is the exercise, which begins with this heading: "A Little Self-Hypnotism. "

It is an actual, detailed instruction to how to put yourself in a hypnotic trance! The stated purpose is to help you remember things better. But it then explains that in order to do this, you need to tell yourself under hypnosis that you should learn better. You are then told how to hypnotize yourself. While in it, you are then to tell yourself three times to memorize better. The book assures you that you will come out of the trance automatically. Frankly, this is the first complete, brief explanation of how to do self hypnosis that I have ever seen; and here it is in a required book for Seventh-day Adventist college students!

When will our people come to the point that they will write Andrews University and our conference, union, and General Conference officials and tell them they will no longer financially support Andrews University in any way, either by specific offerings or in "combined budgets" until such things are removed!

On page 195, you are told exactly how to have a New Age vision! In the vision, you are to talk to your body organs and tell them what to do. I know this sounds impossible, but should I print it? If I do not, you will believe me to be prevaricating. Surely, I must be, for how could a required book in an Adventist university include something like that? Therefore I will print it: (But do not let your children see this!)

"Exercise #30 [Naked woman yogi symbol] Meditation with White Light. Use this exercise whenever you want to calm your thoughts.

"Find a quiet spot where you won't be interrupted. Sit comfortably, loosen any tight clothing. Relax your entire body, beginning with your feet. Work your way right to the top of your head, telling each part of your body to relax as you go.

"Sit quietly for five to ten seconds, letting go of all thoughts as they arise.

"Next, imagine a white Light entering your feet and flowing up your body, up your legs, through your pelvis and stomach, up your spine, through your arms, and up into your head. Imagine this white light filling your entire body with soothing, healing energy. See your body filled with a white light which gives you power, strength, and confidence.

"See and feel this white light as it flows through your body and out the top of your head. .

"Whenever you feel ready, return to the room, open your eyes, and, like a cat, stretch your body slowly. "-Op. cit., p. 195.

Do it "whenever you want to calm your thoughts." So it is something to be done frequently. It is easy for people to frequently imagine that they need to again have their thoughts "calmed." Thus, this trance-like state can easily become addictive. And each time the person does it, he becomes more easily hypnotized, for that is a key effect of hypnosis: the more you are hypnotized, the more easily you can be hypnotized. The more often you are hypnotized, or hypnotize yourself, you can be hypnotized (1) more Quickly by standard classical hypnotism, (2) more easily by Ericksonian "casual conversation" or Ericksonian sermons, and (3) you become less able to resist being hypnotized.

In the above self-induced trance-state, you begin by talking to each of your body organs. Then you pause to get rid of all thoughts. Then use a Hindu/Buddhist device (probably an ancient one) to cast a spell on yourself! Notice that, first, you are to imagine light entering your body, and then, second, to make yourself believe that this imagined "light" is itself giving you "power, strength, and confidence"! You are convincing yourself of a lie, and what is the lie? That help comes from something imaginary seen in a trance! Every Christian knows that power, strength, and confidence comes only from God and from humble, reliant service to Him. But this book teaches that power, strength, and confidence comes from a trance. THAT is false RELIGION! This is more than speculation, or false theory, this is religious teaching! You are to place yourself in a trance of self-worship, and imagine power and confidence flowing into your body. You and I know that if you actually do this, and "feel" any success at all (and, having stepped onto his ground, Satan surely will give such a feeling), you will be strongly tempted to do it again! Each time you repeat it, you will become more addicted!

This book is dangerous!

Significantly enough, the light came from below, and went up. No hint here that it comes down from Heaven, but rather that it comes up from below.

"Whenever you feel ready, return to the room, open your eyes, and, like a cat, stretch your body slowly."

"Return to the room." In this vision, you have been gone from it! Then conclude by imitating a cat. Spiritism teaches that we are only animals. You conclude the trance by identifying yourself with one. Satan knows that those who believe they are animals, or descended from animals, will have no need for moral control.

On page 209, another Yogi exercise is given. You have heard about "Yogi breathing exercises," well, here it is, carefully explained. But, instead of quoting the entire section ("Exercise #33 (Naked woman Yogi symbol] Limb Breathing," page 209), I will only summarize it:

Lie down, close eyes, take slow deep breaths, think about the air entering and leaving your lungs, and how all your problems are leaving with the exhaled air. Incoming air is bringing in "invigorating energy."

"Begin to imagine that the air you inhale comes in through your toes and up through the bones of one leg." Then you are to imagine it traveling around through various parts of your body, and out your toes. Then you imagine it coming in through your fingers, up your arms, etc. Do this three times with each limb, then simultaneously with them.

What sense is there to all that foolishness? Satanism is always senseless, but doing it captivates the soul.

This book provides Andrews students--your son or daughter if you let them go there! with a surprisingly complete introduction to Yogi in the 56 Yogi symbol "exercises. "

But it also has special chapter studies, which have nothing to do with "study techniques," much less Christianity. The chapter entitled, "Surrender," tells you "how to surrender," but it never quite tells you what you are surrendering to. It starts out this way:

"A Zen parable says the Garden of Truth, the grand place everyone wants to enter, is guarded by two monsters: Fear and Paradox. . No matter how hard you try and no matter what skills you bring to bear, some problems remain out of your control. When this is the case, tell the truth. 'It's too big and mean. I can't handle it.' Once you have acknowledged your lack of control, all that remains is to surrender. Formal religions say surrender to God. Buddhists say surrender to the 'Self.' Luke Skywalker would surrender to The Force. Agnostics might suggest surrendering to the ultimate source of power and love in the universe. To whomever or whatever you surrender, it works. .

"Surrender is not a suggestion to simply quit and do nothing about your problems. You have many skills and resources. Use them. You can apply all your energy to handling a situation and surrendering at the same time. Surrendering is doing whatever you can in a positive, trusting spirit. Giving up is fatalistic and accomplishes nothing. So let go, keep going, and know that the true source of control lies beyond you . . Surrender is letting go of being the master in order to avoid becoming the slave." Op cit pp. 248-249.

At last In this book, Christianity Is referred to, but only disparagingly: "Formal religions say surrender to God. What could be more formal or enslaving than the trancelike hallucinations, that Yoga offers? The reader is told that it matters not what you surrender to. Not even the wordIings believe that falsehood! "Surrender is letting go of being the master in order to avoid becoming the slave." If you are neither master nor slave, what are you? an onlooker? Then, immediately after the above, we are told HOW to surrender, and the "how" is another Hindu self-trance:

"Watching yourself with detachment can facilitate your ability to surrender. Pretend that you are floating away from your body, and then watch what's going on from a distance. Witness the drama of your life unfolding objectively, as if you were watching a play. When you see yourself as part of a much broader perspective, surrender seems obvious and natural.

"For surrender to happen, you must trust. Trust dawn to follow darkness. Trust that you will come out on the other side of your problem with new strength and wisdom. Trust that your life is turning out exactly as it should. Trust the process. Surrender." -Op. cit., 249.

And with that the chapter ends. The reader is told to surrender the deciding power in his life-to what? Simply to nothing, anything, everything about him, let circumstances decide what will be done. Just watch your life from a distance and let it go wherever it chances to go.

"For surrender to happen, you must trust. Trust dawn to follow darkness." By this Is meant, trust natural forces to accomplish your goals for you. And, as you watch from a distance, not applying norms or standards to the process, nor using the "kingly power of reason" nor "the power of the will" to interpose, just "trust that your life is turning out exactly as it should. Trust the process. Surrender.

On the next page after this chapter (page 250), is a chart showing the names of 28 addictive street and prescription drugs, under 8 categories. To the right of each is shown, first its pleasant effects, and then its unpleasant effects. Which should one decide between? According to this book, just stand back, let go of yourself, and see how it all works out. Using the technique learned on the preceding two pages, one would just visualize withdrawing from his body, and then doing whatever came to mind in regard to taking these drugs for their effects. Personally, I think the end result of such an approach to hard drugs would be ultimate addiction and early death.

On pages 324-326 are listed 96 statements of "I can do this" and "I can do that. II It is all written in an omnipotent "It is so because I say it is so, and however it is working out is just fine because I think it is." Here are a few examples:

"I am confident of my ability to remember. I have flashes of insight, and solutions to problems appear to me at unusual times. I remember formulas, equations, and similar material. I am a good problem-solver in math and science. I trust my intuition. I am confident when I speak before others. I receive the grades I want on tests. I develop and maintain relationships which help me to get what I want.

I value time (to be) alone. I accept my body the way it is. I am the creator of my experience. I am in control of the alcohol and drugs I put into my body. "-Op. cit., pp. 324-326.

Are Andrews students taught that they are in control of the alcohol and drugs they put into their bodies? Unbelievable in a "required textbook" at the Andrews University and the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary? Yes, it is; but it is true, none-the-less. The book is required reading for every entering student. He must study it under an instructor who tests him on it and requires that he learn it. It sells for $19.95, plus postage and handling, from the Andrews University Bookstore, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan 49104.

The last time I visited the bookstore (1982), they were selling Desmond Ford and Robert Brinsmead books. When I inquired why they were there, the reply was they believe they should sell "controversial books." Yet they had nothing for sale opposing Ford or Brinsmead's errors. Here is a "journal entry" to conclude with:

"If you are consistently not doing what you said you would do, if you are not getting what you said you wanted, examine what you have been saying. You might be saying you want one thing, while you actually want something else. "-Op. cit., p. 308.

That is, if you aren't getting what you want, perhaps you should change your mind and start wanting the opposite,-then you'll get that!

All through the book you will find exercises in thinking about yourself and your abilities, activities to imagine you are a great person, intermingled with "exercises" in self-hypnosis to help you imagine that you are reaching it.

The person that found the above book, after taking a copy, turned around. On the opposite side of the aisle, he found Secrets of the New Age, by Kenneth Wade. Well, this was encouraging! An Adventist denominationally published book against the New Age. Opening it, he found it to be an attempt to discredit the landmark research work of Constance Cumby, in revealing the Satanic source of the New Age movement! In addition, he found that Wade's book said that we have much in common with the New Age. (Wade is in the General Conference Ministerial Association, which arranged to have that New Age painting made for our pastors and evangelists [see The Coming of the New Age Christ (WM-301)].)

Shortly after finding those two books, he met an Adventist who knew more. He was told that at least one Buddhist works in the office of the South Dakota publisher of that student textbook, and that they have no coffee breaks; only water breaks. They have said that Andrews University is one of their better collegiate customers, and has required that book as "must reading" for every entering student since the beginning of the 1989.1990 school year.

PART TEN OF TEN

CONCLUSION

Many errors have entered our church in the past decade. Error and apostasy does of itself have a hypnotic attraction for people who want to remain in their sins. Yet these various problems--such as Desmond Ford's new theology, which is now wide-spread in our North American churches, and the Celebration entertainment churches-would only be greatly intensified under the manipulations of Ericksonian hypnotists, operating in our churches, campmeetings, and seminars!

It is not necessary-to write the Bible or Spirit of Prophecy in order to keep reading it. No one needs to write his prayers in order to keep praying. Why then should anyone need to write his meditative imaginings in order to keep doing them? Why should anyone need to sit in a Yogi position, do self-hypnosis, or listen to hypnotic audiotapes in order to become a better Christian?

The truth is that Scripture study and prayer really do help people, so people keep doing them. Because introspective and entertainment devices help no one, except in giving them an emotional life, crutches are needed to keep men absorbed in those things. Satan's methods are always based on foolishness. Whether it be tongues, shouting, wild music, assurance-in-sin theology, carnivals, sideshows, or whatever, the devil's ways appeal to the flesh. Entertainment and self-assurance in sin (or its opposite: saving yourself by your own activity, apart from Christ) is at the heart of it all. The offer of power in wickedness is rarely refused.

What our church needs are pastors who will go out and preach the Word of God, and in the power of the Spirit bring men to repentance of sin, acceptance of Christ, and obedience to His law. We do not need insipid men in our pulpits, so devoid of Christian principles that they need Ericksonian hypnosis to prop them up and help them influence church members to accept what they consider best for them.

"In Eden Satan used the serpent as his instrument. Today he makes use of the members of the human family, striving by means of every species of cunning and deception to hedge up the path of righteousness, cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in. -1 Bible Commentary, 1083.

The only safety for mankind is to submit to God and His Word, and implicitly trust and obey.

"God does not consult our opinion or preferences. He knows what human beings do not know, the future results of every movement, and therefore our eyes should be directed to Him, and not to the worldly advantages presented by Satan. Satan tells us that if we give heed to him, we shall reach great heights of knowledge. You shall be as gods, he said to Eve, If you eat of the tree forbidden by God. The test given to Adam and Eve was very light, but they could not bear It. They disobeyed God, and this transgression opened the floodgates of woe on our world."-1 Bible Commentary, 1083.

We cannot of ourselves pick and choose our own course. We are not wise enough. In trying to do so, we wander away from God and His Word, and Satan draws near. Those who wish to manage themselves will, in the end, lose out on eternal life. Only those humble enough to accept God's plan, as given in Scripture, will finally be saved.

"God created man for his own glory, that after test and trial the human family might become one with the heavenly family. It was God's purpose to re-populate heaven with the human family, If they would show themselves obedient to His every word. Adam was to be tested, to see whether he would be obedient."-1 Bible Commentary, 1082.

In this study, we have noted the several species of hypnotic activity currently at work in our church. We have given enough Information to help you personally identify it for yourself, when it comes your way. We have discussed ways-to-avoid hypnotism if and when you find yourself confronted by an Ericksonian operator.

Remember, God is your strength! He will not fail you if you place your implicit trust in Him, and carefully follow the instructions given in His Word.

All these problems are indications that the end is near! Rejoice, and look up, and gather renewed courage from God and His Word. The future is bright with eternal rest for the faithful of the Lord. .

THE MAN AND HIS SNAKE

Ericksonlan pastors use story-telling to help you exchange your beliefs and standards for theirs. Let me conclude this tract study on hypnotism by recounting an Incident that occurred about 65 years ago, In the hope that it will help you fear to abandon historic Adventism and the high calling of God In Christ Jesus--for any Immediate emotional benefits offered by the hypnotists.

Once there was a man who had a pet snake. For our purposes here, the superhuman strength of the snake will represent that supernatural power which so fascinates men that they keep playing with it, until they are lured on to disaster.

What would the man represent? The hypnotist himself, who in working with the snake is inevitably under the control of forces which he imagines he is controlling. The man would also be other people that he brings under his control. All of these people were at first curious, but later fascinated by the exhibition of what is obviously a more-than-human power at work.

This is a true story. I read a brief mention of it over twenty years ago. Back in the 1920s, there was a man who had a pet snake. It was a little python. People warned him against snakes, but he was intrigued by those slithery creatures.

"No." he said, "if you feed a snake and care for it well, it will respond with gratitude and appreciation. It will be your friend, and will grow to be your servant. not your master." . The man played with his snake, fed it carefully, and, as snakes will, gradually it grew larger.

Because people were amazed to see a man playing with such a large snake. the man decided to give exhibitions of what his snake could do. While the people watched, the man would enter the cage of his servant, this powerful creature which obeyed his command.

At the call of its master, the snake would crawl over to him. Then, gradually, the snake would slowly coil itself about the man. First his legs, then his trunk and arms. People were astounded as they watched such a powerful force under the control of a human being.

At a word from the master, the snake would coil about the man; at another word, and the snake would slowly uncoil again. The man was delighted at the great power that he lived with, a power, which was subservient to him. The more he fed it, the more he cared for it, the larger it grew. Until it was immense.

After several years of giving these exhibitions, one day, as the people watched, the man entered the cage and called to the snake.

At the sound of his voice, slowly the mighty creature began moving. Unwinding its massive coils. it gradually slid toward the man, and one by one, began wrapping them about the man.

Higher and higher it wound itself about the man as he stood there, until this great force enveloped the man and only his head could be seen.

The people were awed at this exhibition. This man was in control of more-than-human power. Some of the onlookers probably wished they could control an outside power of such massive proportions.

But then, as the onlookers watched in horror, the snake suddenly tightened its coils. Amid the sound of breaking bones, the people screamed, and strong men rushed forward in an attempt to hack in pieces the hulking form of the snake.

But it was too late. Between its coils was its friend; the broken and crushed and body of its master.

The man had been right. There is no doubt but that superhuman strength was to be found here. This was what at first fascinated him, an ever growing, ever more-than-human strength. But, erelong, an even greater fascination gripped him: the possibility of his controlling that power!

But the man had also made several serious mistakes, mistakes that cost him his life:

1 - The power did not belong to him, but to the snake. It was the snake that made the decisions, not the man. Whatever the man was able to do with the snake's strength, was only because the snake for a time let him do it."

2 - The snake was no friend. Snakes never are. They have no affection nor loyalty toward mankind. They have no sense of morality, honesty, or justice. They never will.

3 Yes, here was immense power. But it was power under the control of another mind, not the mind of man. The man could use that power for his own purposes, only as long as the other mind permitted it.

4 - That mind belonged to an enemy, one who hated mankind. An enemy, who, whenever it wished, could use that power to destroy those who came near it.

5 - The more the man learned how to use that immense force for his own advantage, the more subservient he became to it. As the snake grew stronger, he in comparison became weaker, and less able to "resist it.

6 - The man could only use that power by unconsciously submitting his own body to it. He thought he was controlling that massive power, but in reality, it was controlling him.

7 - Each day as he played with it, that power grew in size and strength, until it became an overmastering force.

8 - The man was not playing with the snake; the snake was playing with him. Whenever it wanted to, it could turn on him and destroy him.

Eventually it did just that.

"In Eden Satan used the serpent as his instrument. Today he makes use of the members of the human family, striving by means of every species of cunning and deception to hedge up the path of righteousness cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in." Letter 91, 1900.

"The advantage he [Satan] takes of the sciences, sciences which pertain to the human mind, is tremendous. Here, serpent-like, he imperceptibly creeps in to corrupt the work of God . . This entering of Satan is well devised. Through the channel of phrenology, psychology, and mesmerism (hypnotism), he comes more directly to the people of this generation and works with that power which is to characterize his efforts near the close of probation." Signs, November 6, 1884.

Ultimately, the objective of Satan will be to use the various forms of hypnotism to introduce the people to his deeper errors. Read the following carefully. There is much in it:

"The rapping delusion was presented before me, and I saw that Satan has power to bring before us the appearance of forms purporting to be our relatives or friends who sleep in Jesus. It will be made to appear as if these friends were actually present, the words they uttered while here, with which we were familiar, will be spoken, and the same tone of voice that they had while living will fall upon the ear. All this is to deceive the world and ensnare them into the belief of this delusion.

"I saw that the saints must have a thorough understanding of present truth, which they will be obliged to maintain from the Scriptures. They must understand the state of the dead; for the spirits of devils will yet appear to them, professing to be beloved relatives or friends, who will declare to them unscriptural doctrines. They will do all in their power to excite sympathy and will work miracles before them to confirm what they declare. The people of God must be prepared to withstand these spirits with the Bible truth that the dead know not anything, and that they who thus appear are the spirits of devils.

"We must examine well the foundations of our hope; for we shall have to give a reason for it from the Scriptures. This delusion will spread, and we shall have to contend with it face to face; and unless we are prepared for it, we shall be ensnared and overcome.

"But if we do what we can on our part to be ready for the conflict that is just before us, God will do His part, and His all-powerful arm will protect us. He would sooner send every angel out of glory to make a hedge about faithful souls, than have them deceived and led away by the lying wonders of Satan."-Early Writings, 262.

You will want to read the entire chapter. What about channelers, which is the new name for spiritist mediums? They were described over a hundred years ago:

"Here is a channel wholly devoted to himself, under his control, and he can make the world what he will."-Early Writings, 265.

Significantly, in this same chapter, we are told of a special work of Satan to have his lying angels tell men that there are errors in the Inspired Word and they cannot trust those books. That is exactly what some Seventh-day Adventists are telling us today! When the Word is set aside, the door is wide open for deception by hypnotism and everything else!

"He who is the father of lies, blinds and deceives the world by sending forth his angels to speak for the apostles, and to make it appear that they contradict what they wrote by the dictation of the Holy Ghost when on earth. These lying angels make the apostles to corrupt their own teachings and to declare them to be adulterated (added to or changed by others). By so doing, Satan delights to throw professed Christians and all the world into uncertainty about the Word of God. " Early Writings, 264.

All the crises of the ages will be focused on our time in history.

"All the vast, complicated machinery of evil agencies is put into action in these last days. Through generation after generation, from age to age, Satan has gathered human agencies through whom to work his diabolical purposes, and 10 bring about the enforcement of his plans and devices in the earth. "-Manuscript 39, 1894.

In 1983, Time magazine had an article on Neuro -Linguistic Programming. It mentioned that John Grinder, one of the pioneers of NLP, had gone into semi-retirement as a Eastern guru and, on at least one occasion, had used Ericksonian self-hypnosis to enable him to walk on hot coals without being burned.

"Hypnosis, self-help, linguistics, and nonverbal communication may seem like unrelated items in a therapeutic grab bag. Nonetheless, all are essential components of a fast-growing therapy with the jaw-breaking title: Neuro- Linguistic Programming. "- Time, December 18, 1983.

But, unfortunately, it is just such devices that appeal to the multitudes.

"Thousands who have not an experimental knowledge of Christ will be led to accept the forms of godliness without the power. Such a religion is just what the multitudes want." -Great Controversy, 566-567.

These spiritistic forces will take almost the whole world captive before the end of time.

"I saw the rapidity with which this delusion was spreading. A train of cars was shown me, going with the speed of lightning. The angel bade me look carefully. I fixed my eyes on upon the train. It seemed that the whole world was on board. Then he showed me the conductor, a fair, stately person, whom all the passengers looked up to and reverenced.

"I was perplexed and asked my attending angel who it was. He said, 'It is Satan. He is the conductor, in the form of an angel of light. He has taken the world captive. They are given over to strong delusions, to believe a lie that they may be damned. His agent, the highest in order next to him, is the engineer, and others of his agents are employed in different offices as he may need them, and they are all going with lightning speed to perdition.

"I asked the angel if there were none left. He bade me look in the opposite direction, and I saw a little company traveling a narrow pathway. All seemed to be firmly united by the truth. This little company looked careworn, as if they had passed through severe trials and conflicts. And it appeared as if the sun had just arisen from behind a cloud and shone upon their countenances, causing them to look triumphant as if their victories were nearly won." Early Writings, 263.

Then, an interesting means of identifying this deception is given:

"I saw that the Lord has given the world opportunity to discover the snare. This one thing is evidence enough for the Christian if there were no other; there is no difference made between the precious and the vile. " Early Writings, 263.

Why are certain of our men studying under the hypnotists in order to learn "how to minister to the needs" of the saints? Such men see no difference between the precious and the vile. Anything from anybody, be they Pentecostals or hypnotists, is now being intermingled with the forms of Adventism and taught to our people. The vile is mingled with the precious, and our people are becoming confused as a result. But there is "evidence enough" by which to identify it, as explained in the above quotation. "Thus the world is taken in the snare and led to a feeling of security, not to find out their awful deception until the seven last plagues shall be poured out. Satan laughs as he sees his plan succeed so well. "-Early Writings, 266. His plans are succeeding very well.

"As spiritualism more closely imitates the nominal Christianity of the day, it has greater power to deceive and ensnare."-Great Controversy, 588.

One of his devices is to use professed believers to overcome other believers.

"While preaching, praying, or conversing, some professed Adventists who had rejected present truth used mesmerism to gain adherents, and the people would rejoice in this influence, for they thought it was the Holy Ghost. Some even that used it were so far in darkness and deception of the devil that they thought it was the power of God, given them to exercise. They had (in their thinking) made God altogether such a one as themselves and had valued His power as a thing of nought.

"Some of these agents of Satan were affecting the bodies of some of the saints-those whom they could not deceive and draw away from the truth by a Satanic influence. Oh, that all could get a view of it as God revealed it to me, that they might know more of the wiles of Satan and be on their guard!

"I saw that Satan was at work in these ways to distract, deceive, and draw away God's people, just now in this sealing time. I saw some who were not standing stiffly for present truth. Their knees were trembling, and their feet sliding because they were not firmly planted on the truth, and the covering of Almighty God could not be drawn over them while they were thus trembling.

"Satan was trying his every art to hold them where they were, until the sealing was past, until the covering was drawn over God's people, and they left without a shelter from the burning wrath of God, in the seven last plagues. God has begun to draw this covering over His people, and it will soon be drawn over all who are to have a shelter in the day of slaughter. God will work in power for His people; and Satan will be permitted to work also." -Early Writings, 44-45.

Those willing to let Satan have the control of them will be changed into agents through whom he can work to reach still others.

"The forces of the powers of darkness will unite with human agents who have given themselves into the control of Satan, and the same scenes that were exhibited at the trial, rejection, and crucifixion of Christ will be revived.

"Through yielding to satanic influence men will be merged into fiends, and those who were created in the image of God, who were formed to honor and glorify their Creator, will become the habitation of dragons, and Satan will see in an apostate race his masterpiece of evil men who reflect his own image. "-Manuscript 39, 1894.

Mesmer of France claimed that his hypnotic power came from "magnetic powers" and resulted in "magnetic healing." Disciples of his attributed the supernatural power of hypnotism to "sympathetic healing." Here is a statement on this:

"Believers in spiritism may speak with scorn of the magicians of old, but the great deceiver laughs in triumph as they yield to his arts under a different form.

"There are many who shrink with horror from the thought of consulting spirit mediums, but who are attracted by more pleasing forms of spiritism. Others are led astray by the teachings of Christian Science, and by the mysticism of Theosophy and other Oriental religions.

"The apostles of nearly all forms of spiritism claim to have power to heal. They attribute this power to electricity, magnetism, the so-called 'sympathetic remedies,' or to latent forces within the mind of man. And there are not a few even in this Christian age, who go to these healers, instead of trusting in the power of the living God and the skin of well-qualified physicians. The mother, watching by the sickbed of her child, exclaims, 'I can do no more. Is there no physician who has power to restore my child?' She is told of the wonderful cures performed by some clairvoyant or magnetic healer (hypnotist), and she trusts her dear one to his charge, placing it as verily in the hand of Satan as if he were standing by her side. In many instances the future life of the child is controlled by a satanic power which it seems impossible to break."-Prophets and Kings, 210-211..

"Many are attracted by more pleasing forms of spiritism:' Far too many in our own church are too easily attracted to them at the present time.

The sign of distinction that separates the people of God from the world is the seal of Revelation 14:12: the Sabbath truth and obedience to the Ten Commandments by faith in Jesus Christ. But Satan wishes to separate the people of God from this badge of separation.

"Satan's power is constantly exercised to stupefy the sensibilities of God's people, that their consciences may not be sensitive to wrong, and that the sign of distinction between them and the world may be destroyed." -1 Testimonies, 274-275.

"This entering in of Satan through the sciences is well devised. Through the channel of phrenology, psychology, and mesmerism, he comes more directly to the people of this generation, and works with that power which is to characterize his efforts near the dose of probation. . Through these sciences, virtue is destroyed, and the foundations of Spiritualism are laid."-2 Selected Messages, 351-352.

The crisis is not over; in fact it is intensifying. We must be on guard. Regarding the "sciences of the mind," we are told:

"It is a power which will yet work with all signs and lying wonders-with all deceivableness of unrighteousness. Mark the influence of these sciences, dear reader, for the conflict between Christ and Satan is not yet ended."-2 Selected Messages, 352.

"For thousands of years Satan has been experimenting upon the properties of the human mind, and he has learned to know it well. By his subtle workings in these last days he is linking the human mind with his own, imbuing it with his thought; and he is doing this in so deceptive a manner that those who accept his guidable know not that they are being led by him at his will. The great deceiver hopes to confuse the minds of men and women that none but his voice shall be heard."-Letter 244, 1907.

Beware also of those who would subtly lead you into compromising your principles.

"Satan often finds a powerful agency for evil in the power which one human mind is capable of exerting on another human mind. This influence is so seductive that the person who is being molded by it is often unconscious of its power. God has bidden me speak warning against this evil, that His servants may not come under the deceptive power of Satan. The enemy is a master worker, and if God's people are not constantly led by the Spirit of God, they will be snared and taken." -2 Selected Messages, 252.

We are not to use Satan's devices, but we should know what they are, lest we be captured by them. That is why you will want to share this tract-set with others who need this information.

"He [Satan) comes in garments of light, clad apparently in pure angel robes, that we may not discern that it is he. We need to use great caution, to closely investigate his devices, last we be deceived."-Manuscript 34, 1897.

Never is a person benefited by having his mind controlled by another. It matters not whether the hypnotic operator claims he will use it to heal or improve the emotions, the memory, or physical functions of the body. In reality, that which he is trying to do is "one of the most dangerous deceptions which can be practiced upon an individual, It and "the most awful science which has ever been advocated."

"No individual should be permitted to take control of another person's mind, thinking that in so doing he is causing him to receive great benefit. The mind cure is one of the most dangerous deceptions, which can be practiced upon any individual. .

"It is not God's design for any human being to yield his mind to another human being. The risen Christ, who is now set down on the throne at the right hand of the Father, is the Mighty Healer. Look to Him for healing power. Through Him alone can sinners come to God just as they are. Never can they come through any man's mind. The human agent must never interpose between the heavenly agencies and those who are suffering. .

"We do not ask you to place yourself under the control of any man's mind. The mind cure is the most awful science, which has ever been advocated, every wicked being can use it in carrying through his own evil designs. We have no business with any such science. We should be afraid of it. Never should the first principles of it be brought into any institution.

"Christ can do nothing for those who are yoked up with the enemy. . We already have the science which gives them real rest-the science of salvation, the science of restoration, the science of a living faith in a living Saviour."-Medical Ministry, 115-117.