Faith, Not Trance: A Rational Refutation of Zindler's Thesis on Religion and Hypnosis

This paper offers a critical response to Frank Zindler’s 1984 essay “Religion, Hypnosis, and Music: An Evolutionary Perspective.” Zindler proposes that religious experience is a neurobiological byproduct of hypnotic suggestibility and musical stimulation—an adaptive illusion rather than a valid epistemic framework. While acknowledging Zindler’s historical context and intellectual sincerity, this paper challenges the reductionist nature of his claims. It argues that religion cannot be adequately explained through neurochemical responses or group selection theory alone. Drawing on interdisciplinary evidence from neurotheology, anthropology, and philosophy of mind, the paper presents religion as a structured moral and metaphysical system, not a cognitive glitch. It highlights the philosophical inconsistencies in equating evolutionary utility with truth, and critiques the ideological bias in scientific reductionism. The paper also emphasizes the civilizational role of religion in shaping ethics, science, art, and human dignity across cultures. Ultimately, it calls for a deeper, fairer dialogue between religious traditions and secular critiques—one that respects the complexity of spiritual experience and the quest for meaning. Religion is not merely survival-driven illusion; it is a human expression of transcendence, justice, and moral awakening. Zindler’s thesis raises valuable questions—but fails to capture the full cognitive, ethical, and historical dimensions of religious consciousness.