Vol. 8, No. 8, 1991

Articles on the New Age

James Walker

A few years ago I was asked by my friend, Dr. Robert Chown, to teach a class at Dallas Theological Seminary.

The class dealt with youth ministry and Bob asked me to really try to do something to shake up the seminarians and impress them with the powerfully deceptive nature of the cults and occult.

Coincidentally, about a few days before I was to teach, I received a phone call from a student named Jeff who was wanting some information on Mormonism.

I asked him how he found out about Watchman Fellowship and he explained that he was a student at Dallas Seminary and had picked up a copy of the Expositor in the student lounge.

Remembering my upcoming class, I asked him if he happened to know Dr. Chown and to my surprise he said that he was taking a class with him that semester -- the same class I was about to teach!

"Are you a good actor?" I asked him to which he said that he felt that he could be. Quickly, a plan begin to form in my mind and I told Jeff that I would call him back with some important instructions.

The day arrived. Bob introduced me to the class and after a few minutes sharing about the ministry of Watchman Fellowship, I told the students, "I don't have time today, but if I did, I would love to show you a hypnotic regression to a past life as an example of just how deceptive the occult can be."

Just as I expected, the class and the professor (who also had no idea of my plan), spoke up pleading with me to take the time and saying they would love to see a sample.

I "reluctantly" agreed warning that no one could leave the room until I was completely finished (I didn't want anyone leaving with the wrong idea).

I also asked for a volunteer to "hypnotize", cautioning potential subjects that many cult researchers consider deep-trance hypnotism to be dangerous and that often while under hypnosis embarrassing details of one's personal life may be revealed.

Just as I expected after such a warning, none of the students wanted to volunteer. Finally, my "plant" Jeff spoke up but he didn't volunteer himself. Instead he said, "What about our professor, why don't you hypnotize Dr. Chown?"

I "temporarily" thought that was a good idea but after coaxing Bob up to the front of the class, I "remembered" that I couldn't use Bob because he was a friend.

I asked him to return to his seat explaining to the class that I must use a person who I have never met.

Again, no volunteers, so I said, "Who suggested that we use Bob?" Immediately all the students pointed to Jeff in the back of the room.

"He's so quick to enlist others, who thinks that he should be the one we use?" I asked.

Without hesitation everyone in the class picked Jeff as the volunteer (just as I planned). Jeff at first refused to participate but after much coaxing and joking he finally "gave in" and agreed to be hypnotized.

I pretended to be some great expert in hypnosis, trance states, and various induction methods (actually I have never attempted hypnosis in my life).

After a number of "unsuccessful attempts" I pretended to hypnotize him. Jeff did a great job of pretending -- almost fooling me!

I "regressed" him back to High School, Jr. High and then the first grade. He went through the motions of naming all of his class mates in first grade and describing the dress his teacher was wearing.

The I took him back before his current birth -- back to the year 1849. Suddenly Jeff sat straight up an in a deep, unnatural voice he said, "What do you want?... Leave me alone?"

Needless to say, everyone in the class jumped including me.

Under my intensive questioning, Jeff "identified" himself as a reincarnated prospector named Bart Wilkes, who lived near San Francisco and struck it rich during the California gold rush.

Further questioning revealed the name of his town, his wife's name and their children, the name of the town's sheriff and, if I remember correctly, the location of the miner's claim.

The class was speechless, some were taking notes. After bringing him out of the "trance," I asked him if he had any knowledge of 19th century California state history to which he honestly said no.

I told the class that if an occultist or New Ager were conducting the class they would explain that a subsequent historical investigation would reveal that there really was a prospector named Bart Wilkes and that all of the historical information -- the town, sheriff's name, etc. would be found in the legal papers and records of the period.

The class was literally speechless!

What had they seen?

"Is reincarnation true?" I asked the class, "Of course not" (Heb. 9:27). But if that was not reincarnation, what did you just witness. I then shared three possible explanations for supernatural evidence given for the occult.

Deep Subconscious Knowledge

It could be that Jeff had subconscious knowledge of California history that was hidden from his conscious mind.

This would be similar to the amazing case of Virginia Tighe who was put in an altered state of consciousness by the amateur hypnotist, Morey Bernstein in 1952.

Under hypnosis Tighe "became" Bridey Murphy a woman who supposedly lived in Ireland between 1798 and 1864. She gave many details of the town of Cork and even spoke in an Irish brogue.

A best-selling book was written in 1956, The Search for Bridey Murphy, and even a movie was produced based on this "proof" of reincarnation.

However, after further investigation, no evidence for a Bridey Murphy was ever found in Cork, Ireland.

Also, more importantly, psychologists later discovered that, "...there were experiences in Virginia Tighe's past that resembled material in Bridey's communications." (Psychic Voyages by Stuart Holroyd p.118).

Although some still cite the case of Bridey Murphy, researchers have thoroughly discredited the story. Many believe that it was simply a case of events from her childhood experiences not stored in the conscious mind, which came forth under hypnosis.

Demonic Manifestation

A second possibility would be demonic manifestation. Demons, who are older than this world and quite familiar with California history, could speak through the mouth of one who is possessed and mimic proof of reincarnation.

Many Bible scholars believe Scripture refers to similar events such as the case of the slave girl in Acts who had a spirit of divination (spirit or python) and practiced soothsaying (fortune telling) until Paul cast the spirit out (Acts 16:16-18).

The The same term, "divination" (python) is also used in the greek translation of the Old Testament for those having a "familiar spirit" such as the witch of Endor.

Deception or Illusion

The third possibility (which was the actual case in this classroom situation) was deception or illusion. Fakers can use stage magic, slight of hand, mentalism, or a well disguised accomplice (i.e. Jeff) to create the illusion of the supernatural.

After explaining to the whole class of how Jeff and I had planned the example, I warned that a professional could have created a far more convincing illusion. Imagine how powerful such a demonstration would be to a teen-ager who did not have the advantage of a theological education.

For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.... Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices (2 Cor. 2:9-11).