Hypnosis - a connecting basic element of religious practices?

Abstract

Exemplarily, we deductively examine on a phenomenological level, whether common hypnotic techniques can be identified in practices of various big religions. We further demonstrate the neuroscientific basis of these practices. Therefore, we select rituals such as praying, which, apart from their contents, exhibit comparable temporal patterns and provide similar structuring functions across various traditions. We also describe specific effects of the architecture of churches on neuropsychological aspects. Finally, we demonstrate similarities between traditional habits and interventions used in trauma psychotherapy.