Psychologist says church appeared to use hypnosis - Mary Johnson
Psychologist says church appeared to use hypnosis
A woman who is suing the Church of Scientology appeared to have been
hypnotised while undergoing an auditing session by a member of the
church, a psychologist told the High Court yesterday. Ms Mary Johnston
appeared to have been subjected to "very curious" and
"not very good" therapy.
Dr Peter Naish, a chartered psychologist who has written extensively
on hypnosis, said it was his view Ms Johnston was very susceptible to
hypnosis.
He was giving evidence in the continuing action for damages taken by
Ms Johnston (40), who operates a sports equipment centre at Westwood,
Foxrock, Dublin, against the church and three of its members - Mr John
Keane, Mr Tom Cunningham and Mr Gerard Ryan. She is alleging
conspiracy, misrepresentation and breach of constitutional rights.
Earlier yesterday, Mr Michael Collins SC, for the church, concluded
lengthy submissions to the effect that the court should not hear the
evidence of Dr Naish. Mr Justice Peart held the evidence was
admissible. To exclude it would potentially render an injustice to Ms
Johnston which outweighed any possible prejudice to the defence, he
said.
Beginning his evidence, Dr Naish told Mr Michael Cush SC, for Ms
Johnston, of his qualifications, including a doctorate in experimental
psychology from Oxford University. He was now engaged in research work
for the British Ministry of Defence, lecturing in cognitive psychology
for the Open University and providing therapy at Reading Clinic.
He had a particular interest in hypnosis and was one of the few
psychologists in England with extensive experience in that area.
Dr Naish said he had no contact with Scientology prior to the case. He
had heard most of Ms Johnston's testimony and read the transcripts of
the case and Scientology books and documents.
Asked about hypnosis, he said there was nothing intrinsically harmful
in the practice per se. However, when it was used as a vehicle for
some kind of therapy, the person using it must be able to deal with
the subject's reactions. There was a concern that if a subject became
distressed, the hypnotist might retraumatise them. Not all people were
susceptible to hypnosis. In his view, Ms Johnston was highly
susceptible.
Mr Cush read extracts from Dianetics - The Modern Science of Mental
Health, by the founder of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard, and also
outlined extracts from Ms Johnston's evidence to the court.
He said the extracts from Dianetics indicated that what was involved
in auditing was hypnosis. It appeared hypnosis was being used as a
vehicle and that material was being developed in an emotional context.
Source: Irish Times
Publication date: 2003-03-13
[Note: The
Scientology®
organization has at best estimate approximately
45,000 to 50,000 followers world wide -- contrary to the 8 million figure
that the organization has been claiming for the past few years or so.
While that number continues to drop (thanks in part to the Internet) few
of the remaining followers are even aware of the unending series of police
raids, indictments, and prison terms their leaders and fellow cultists are
subjected to routinely. Few are allowed to know about their organization's
criminal history, or its current racketeering activities. Even fewer of
the cult's remaining followers are privy to their messiah's written
policies which dictates the criminal behavior that keeps getting their
organization raided (see Xenu.NET for
suitable references of Scientology policy) Scientology management
is the problem, not the thousands of honest believers who are good,
honest citizens; themselves victims of Scientology - flr]
The name "Narconon"® is trademarked to the Scientology organization through one of their many front groups. The name "Scientology"® is also trademarked to the "Church" of Scientology. Neither this web page, nor this web site, nor any of the individuals mentioned herein assisting to educate the public about the dangers of the Narconon scam are members of or representitives of the Scientology organization.
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