Benny Hinn: Healer Or Hypnotist?

INVESTIGATIVE FILES JOE NICKELL

Benny Hinn: Healer or Hypnotist?

enny Hinn tours die world with Kathryn Kuhlman (1907-1976). At draws the largest crowd of any evangelist his "Miracle Crusade," drawing that service he had a profound religious in America today" (Condren 2001). thousands to each service, with experience, and that very night he was Hinn's mentor, Kathryn Kuhlman, B pulled from bed and "began to shake who performed in flowing white gar- many hoping for a healing of body, mind, or spirit. A significant number and vibrate all over" with the Holy ments trimmed with gold (Spraggett seem rewarded and are brought onstage Spirit (Hinn 1999,8-14). 1971, 16), was apparently the inspira- to pour out tearful testimonials. Then, Before long Hinn began to conduct tion for Hinn's trademark white suits seemingly by the Holy Spirit, they are services sponsored by the Kathryn and gold jewelry. From her he obviously knocked down at a mere touch or ges- Kuhlman Foundation. Kuhlman died learned the clever "shotgun" technique ture from the charismatic evangelist. before Hinn could meet her personally of faith-healing (also practiced by Pat Although I had seen clips of Hinn's ser- but her influence on him was profound, Robertson and others). This involves vices on television, I decided to attend as he acknowledged in a book, Kathryn announcing to an audience that certain and witness his performance live when Kuhlman: Her Spiritual Legacy and Its healings are taking place, without speci- his crusade came to Buffalo, New York, Impact on My Life (Hinn 1999). fying just who is being favored (Randi last June 28-29. Donning a suitable Eventually he began preaching else- 1987,228-229). garb and sporting a cane (left over from where, including the Full Gospel Selection Process a 1997 accident in Spain), I limped into Tabernacle in Orchard Park, New York my seat at the HSBC Arena, downtown. (near Buffalo) and later at a church in In employing this technique, Hinn first Orlando, Florida. By 1990 he was sets the stage with mood music, leading Learning the Ropes receiving national prominence from his the audience (as did Kuhlman) in a gen- Benny Hinn was born in 1953, die son book Good Morning, Holy Spirit, and in tle rendering of of an Armenian mother and Greek 1999 he moved his ministry headquar- He touched me, oh. He touched me, father. He grew up in Jaffa, Israel, "in a ters to Dallas. And, oh, die joy that filled my soul! Greek Orthodox home" but was "taught Lacking any biblical or other theolog- Something happened and now 1 by nuns at a Catholic school" (Hinn ical training, Hinn was soon criticized by know He touched me, and made me other Christian ministries. One, 1999, 8). Following the Six-Day War in whole. . . . 1967, he emigrated to Canada with his Personal Freedom Outreach, labeled his family. When he was nineteen he be- teachings a "theological quagmire ema- Spraggett (1971, 17) says that with came a born-again Christian. Nearly nating from biblical misinterpretation Kuhlman, as it was sung over and over, two years later, in December 1973, he and extra-biblical 'revelation knowl- it became "a chant, an incantation, hyp- traveled by charter bus from Toronto to edge.'" He admitted to Christianity notic in its effect," and the same is true Pittsburgh to attend a "miracle service" Today magazine that he had erred theo- of Hinn's approach. by Pentecostal faith-healing evangelist logically and vowed to make changes In time, die evangelist announces that (Frame 1991), but he has continued to miracles are taking place. At the service I Joe Nickell is CSICOP's Senior Research remain controversial. Nevertheless, attended, he declared that someone was Fellow and author of numerous investiga- according to a minister friend, "Outside being "healed of witchcraft"; others were tive hooks. of the Billy Graham crusade, he probably having the "demon of suicide" driven

1 4 May/June 2002 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER out; still others were being cured of can- "Now, it's okay to relax and separate resulted from "an abusive relationship cer. He named various diseases and con- them." If he has too many candidates with her husband." Still another (who from the first test, he may then give ditions that were supposedly being alle- admitted to being "an emotional per- them a second test by suggesting they viated and mentioned different areas of cannot open their mouths, move a son") said her sister-in-law sitting the anatomy—a back, a leg, etc.—that limb, or open their eyes after closing beside her had begun to "speak in he claimed were being healed. He even them. Those volunteers who fail one tongues" and that she herself felt she stated that he need not name every dis- or more of the tests are sent back to ease or body part, that God's power was effecting a multitude of cures all over the arena. Hinn's selection process is—perhaps not

Thus, instead of the afflicted being surprisingly—virtually identical to that employed invited up to £f healed (with no guaran- by professional stage hypnotists. tee of success), the "shotgun" method encourages receptive, emotional individ- uals to believe they are healed. Only that was healed of various ailments, includ- self-selected group is invited to come ing high blood pressure and marital forward and testify to their supposedly trouble. At her mention of her brother, miraculous transformation. While I Hinn brought him up and learned he remained seated (seeing no investigative had been healed of "sixteen demons" purpose to making a false testimonial), two years previously, and expected to others are more tragically left behind. At be cured of diabetes; Hinn prayed for one Hinn service a woman—hearing God to "set him free" of the disease. the evangelist's anonymously directed Another was supposedly cured of being command to "stand up out of that "afraid of the Lord" (although he was wheelchair!"—struggled to do so for carrying the bible of a friend who had almost half an hour before finally sink- died of AIDS), and one woman stated ing back, exhausted (Thomas 2001). she believed she had just been cured of There is even a further step in the ovarian cancer. selection process: Of those who do make In each instance—after the person it down the aisles, only a very few will has given a little performance (running actually be invited on stage. They must about, offering a sobbing testimonial, first undergo what amounts to an audi- etc.), and Hinn has responded with tion for the privilege. Those who tell the some mini-sermon, prayer, or other re- most interesting stories and show the action—the next step in the role-playing greatest enthusiasm are the ones likely to is acted out. As one of his official catch- be chosen (Underdown 2001). ers moves into place behind the person, This selection process is—perhaps Benny Hinn Hinn gives a gesture, touch, or other sig- not surprisingly—virtually identical to nal. Most often, while squeezing the that employed by professional stage their seats, and those who pass all the person's face between thumb and finger, hypnotists. According to Robert A. tests are kept for the demonstration. he gives a little push, and down the Baker, in his definitive book. They Call Needless to say, not only are they com- compliant individual goes. Some slump; It Hypnosis (1990, 138-139): pliant, cooperative, and suggestible, some stiffen and fall backward; a few but most have already made up their Stage hypnotists, like successful trial reel. Once down, many lie as if en- minds in volunteering to help out and lawyers, have long known their most do exacdy as they arc told. tranced, while others writhe and seem important task is to carefully pick their almost possessed. subjects—for the stage as for a jury— if they expect to win. Compliance is Role-playing Along with speaking or praying in highly desirable, and to determine this Once on stage, one of Hinn's screener;rs tongues (glossolalia) and other cmo- ahead of time, the stage magician will announces each "healed" person in tional expressions, this phenomenon of usually give several test suggestions to those who volunteer to come up on turn, giving a quick summary of thhee "going under the Power" is a character- the stage. Typically, he may ask the vol- alleged miracle. At the service I istic of the modern charismatic move- unteers to clasp their hands together attended, one woman put on a show ooff ment (after the Greek charisma, "gift"), tightly and then suggest that the hands jumping up and down to demonstratite Also known as being "slain in the are stuck together so that they can't pull them apart. The stage hypnotist that she was free of pain following kneee Spirit," it is often regarded skeptically selects the candidates who go along surgery three weeks before. Anotheicr even by other Christians who suspect— with the suggestion and cannot get was cured of "depression," caused by correctly—that the individuals involved their hands apart until he tells them, "the demon," said a screener, thaat are merely "predisposed to fall" (Benny

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER May/June 2002 15 Hinn: Pros & Cons 2002). That is, they greater or lesser degree to "mental medi- of her hearing" as claimed at the merely engage in a form of role-playing cine." Pain is especially responsive to sug- Portland crusade. However, her physi- tiiat is prompted by their strong desire gestion. In the excitement of an evangel- cian stated, "I do not think this was a to receive divine power as well as by the ical revival, the reduction of pain due to miracle in any sense." He reported that influence of suggestion that they do so. the release of endorphins (pain-killing the woman had had only a "very mild Even the less emotionally suggestible substances produced by the body) often hearing loss" just two years before and people will be unwilling not to comply causes people to believe and act as if they that she had made "a normal recovery." when those around them expect it. have been miraculously healed (Condren The fourth case was that of a girl In short, they behave just as if "hyp- 2001; Nickell 1993; Nolen 1974). who had not been "getting enough oxy- notized." Although popularly believed Critical studies are illuminating. Dr. gen" but who claimed to have been to involve a mystical "trance" state, hyp- William A. Nolen, in his book Healing: healed at Hinn's service. In fact, since the crusade she "continued to suffer breathlessness," yet her mother was so One professional hypnotist said of convinced that a miracle had occurred that she did not continue to have her Hinn's performance: "This is something we daughter seek medical care. do every day and Mr. Hinn is a real professional. Finally, there was what the crusade billed as "a walking dead woman." She had had cancer throughout both lungs, nosis is in fact just compliant behavior A Doctor in Search of a Miracle (1974), but her doctors were now "over- in response to suggestions (Baker 1990, followed up on several reported cases of whelmed" that she was "still alive and 286). One professional hypnotist said of healing from a Kathryn Kuhlman ser- still breathing." Actually, her oncologist Hinn's performance: "This is something vice but found no miracles—only remis- rejected all such claims, saying the we do every day and Mr. Hinn is a real sions, psychosomatic diseases, and other woman had an "unpredictable form of professional" (Thomas 2001). explanations, including the power of cancer that was stable at the time of the suggestion. crusade." Tragically, her condition sub- Cures? More recently a study was conducted sequently deteriorated and she died just But what about the healings? Do faith- following a Benny Hinn crusade in nine months afterward. healers like Benny Hinn really help Portland, Oregon, where seventy-six What Harm? nudge God to work miracle cures? In miracles were alleged. For an HBO tele- fact, such claims are invariably based on vision special, A Question of Miracles As these cases demonstrate, there is a negative evidence—"we don't know (Thomas 2001), Benny Hinn Ministries danger that people who believe them- what caused the illness to abate, so it was asked to supply the names of as selves cured will forsake medical assis- must have been supernatural"—and so many of these as possible for investiga- tance that could bring them relief or represent the logical fallacy called "argu- tion. After thirteen weeks, just five even save their lives. Dr. Nolen (1974, ing from ignorance." In fact, as I names were provided. Each case was fol- 97-99) relates the tragic case of Mrs. explained to a reporter from The Buffalo lowed for one year. Helen Sullivan who suffered from can- News following a Benny Hinn service, The first involved a grandmother cer that had spread to her vertebrae. people may feel they are healed due to who stated she had had "seven broken Kathryn Kuhlman had her get out of several factors. In addition to the body's vertebras" but that the Lord had healed her wheelchair, remove her back brace, own natural healing mechanisms, there her at the evening service in Portland. and run across the stage repeatedly. The crowd applauded what they thought was is the fact that some serious ailments, In fact, x-rays afterward revealed other- a miracle, but the antics cost Mrs. including certain types of cancer, are wise, although the woman felt her pain Sullivan a collapsed vertebra. Four unpredictable and may undergo "spon- had lessened. taneous remission"—that is, may abate months after her "cure," she died. The second case was that of a man for a time or go away entirely. Other fac- who had suffered a logging accident ten Nolen (1974, 101) stated he did not tors include even misdiagnosis (such as years previously. He demonstrated think Miss Kuhlman a deliberate charla- that of a supposedly "inoperable, malig- improved mobility at the crusade, but his tan. She was, he said, ignorant of diseases nant brain-stem tumor" that was actu- condition afterward deteriorated and and the effects of suggestion. But he sus- ally due to a faulty CT scan [Randi pected she had "trained herself to deny, 1987, 291-292]). "movement became so painful he could no longer dress himself." Yet he remained emotionally and intellectually, anything And then there are the powerful convinced he was healed and refused the diat might threaten the validity of her effects of suggestion. Not only psychoso- medication and surgery his doctors ministry." The same may apply to Benny matic illnesses (of which there is an insisted was necessary. Hinn. One expert in mental states, Michael A. Persinger, a neuroscientist, impressive variety) but also those with The next individual was a lady who, suggests people like Hinn have fantasy- distinct physical causes may respond to a for fifty years, had only "thirty percent

1 6 May/June 2002 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER prone personalities (Thomas 2001). because they didn't believe." More research assistance, Ranjit Sandhu for typing Indeed, the backgrounds of both pointedly. Rabbi Harold S. Kushner the manuscript, and Robert A. Baker for reading it. Kuhlman and Hinn reveal many traits stated on A Question of Miracles associated with fantasy-proneness, but it (Thomas 2001): References must be noted that being fantasy prone 1 hope there is a special place in Hell does not preclude also being deceptive Baker, Robert A. 1990, They Call It Hypnosis. for people who try and enrich them- Buffalo, N.Y.: Prometheus Books. and manipulative. selves on the suffering of others. To Benny Hinn: Pros & cons. 2002. Internet posting: tantalize the blind, the lame, the www.rapidnct.com/-jbeard/bdm/exposes/ Hinn notes that only rarely does he hinn/gcneral.htm. dying, the afflicted, the terminally ill. lay hands on someone for healing, but he Condren, Dave. 2001. Evangelist Benny Hinn to dangle hope before parents of a packs arena. The Buffalo News. June 29. made an exception for one child whose severely afflicted child, is an indescrib- Frame. Randy. 1991. Best-selling author admits case was being filmed for the HBO doc- ably cruel thing to do, and to do it in mistakes, vows changes. Christianity Today. the name of God, to do it in the name October 28, 44-45. umentary. The boy was blind and dying Hinn, Benny. 1990. Good Morning, Holy Spirit. from a brain tumor. "The Lord's going to of religion, I think, is unforgivable. Nashville: Thomas Nelson. touch you," Hinn promised. The child's . 1999. Kathryn Kuhlman: Her Spiritual Amen. legacy and Its Impact on My Life. Nashville: parents believed and, although not Thomas Nelson. wealthy, pledged $100 per month to the Nickell. Joe. 1993. Looking for a Miracle: Weeping Acknowledgments Icons. Relics, Stigmata. Visions & Healing Cures. Benny Hinn Ministries. Subsequently, Amherst, N.Y.: Prometheus Books. however, the child died. Nolen. William A. 1974. Healing: A Doctor in I am grateful to George E. Abaunza, Search of a Miracle. New York: Random Critics, like the Rev. Joseph C. Professor of Philosophy at Felician College in House. Hough, President of New York's Union Iodi, N.J., for sending me a copy of the Randi, James. 1987. The Faith Healers. Buffalo, Theological Seminary, say of the desper- video A Question of Miracles. I also appreciate N.Y.: Prometheus Books 228-229. Spraggett, Allen. 1971. Kathryn Kuhlman: The ately hopeful: "It breaks your heart to the input of Jim Underdown and other mem- bets of the Center for Inquiry-West's Woman Who Believed in Miracles. New York: know that they are being deceived, Independent Investigations Group who Signet. Thomas, Antony. 2001, A Question of Miracles. because they genuinely are hoping and attended a Benny Hinn Miracle Crusade in HBO special, April 15. believing. And they'll leave there think- Anaheim, California, August 17, 2001. Underdown, James. 2001. Personal communica- ing that if they didn't get a miracle it's Thanks are also due to Tim Binga for tion, October 23.

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