Unmasking FHU: Hypnosis, Divination, and the Deception of Roy Masters, Founder
Unmasking Roy Masters and the Foundation of Human Understanding: A Christian Warning
In a world desperate for peace of mind and personal transformation, many seekers fall into the traps of pseudo-spiritual modalities masked as self-help or enlightenment. One such trap is the Foundation of Human Understanding (FHU), an institution founded by Roy Masters, a man deeply involved in hypnotism, mind control, and occult techniques.
Though cloaked in philosophical and therapeutic language, FHU's practices are spiritually dangerous. Christians need to be aware of the demonic roots of such teachings and why following them directly contradicts the Word of God.
Who Was Roy Masters?
Roy Masters (born Reuben Obermeister) founded the Foundation of Human Understanding in 1961 in Oregon. A former diamond cutter turned hypnotist, Masters claimed that conventional religion and psychology had failed people. His alternative? A method of "meditative observation" rooted in hypnosis—specifically designed to bypass the conscious mind and influence behavior at the subconscious level.
Masters practiced hypnotism, mind control, and psychological manipulation, presenting it all under the guise of "spiritual awakening" and inner clarity. But this isn’t the path to peace—it’s the path to demonic influence.
The Religion Behind FHU
While Masters often rejected formal religious labels, his worldview borrowed heavily from Gnosticism, Eastern mysticism, and occult psychology. He promoted self-realization through mystical introspection—similar to the New Age notion of becoming your own god.
The spiritual roots of these teachings are not Christian—they’re steeped in divination and manipulation, both of which Scripture condemns.
Hypnosis and Divination: The Real Power Behind It
Though hypnosis is often framed as scientific or therapeutic, its roots trace back to occult practices. It involves altered states of consciousness and relinquishing control of the mind—a perfect invitation for demonic entities to gain influence.
The Bible is clear: such practices are forbidden.
📖 Deuteronomy 18:10–12 says:
“There shall not be found among you anyone... who practices divination, or tells fortunes, or interprets omens, or a sorcerer... For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord.”
Though Masters didn’t claim to be a psychic or prophet, he used techniques that align with sorcery and mental manipulation, which are spiritually hazardous.
Why Christians Must Stay Away
Masters taught that salvation comes through self-awareness and mastering one's mind, not through faith in Jesus Christ. This teaching is antithetical to the Gospel, which states that salvation comes by grace through faith, not inner enlightenment.
📖 Ephesians 2:8 says:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”
Following FHU’s teachings encourages self-reliance instead of dependence on Christ. It promotes inner awakening through mental exercises, rather than spiritual rebirth by the Holy Spirit.
Consequences: Spiritual Torment and Confusion
Many who have dabbled in FHU practices or similar hypnotic modalities report spiritual torment—nightmares, anxiety, compulsive thoughts, and even hearing voices. Why? Because when you surrender your mind to hypnotic or meditative suggestion, you yield control to spirits that are not from God.
📖 2 Corinthians 11:14–15 warns:
“Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.”
This false light can feel enlightening at first, but it soon leads to bondage, confusion, and spiritual darkness.
FHU and the New Age Spirit
Roy Masters’ teachings reflect the spirit of the New Age—a dangerous blend of Gnosticism, mysticism, and self-deification. It rejects the authority of Scripture and denies the need for repentance, holiness, or obedience to God.
📖 Colossians 2:8 warns:
“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition... and not according to Christ.”
Final Warning: Return to the Word of God
If you’ve practiced FHU teachings, hypnosis, or any mind control techniques, it's not too late. Renounce them, repent, and turn to Jesus Christ, who offers true peace and transformation.
📖 Romans 12:2 says:
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...”
That renewal comes not through hypnosis, but through God’s Word and His Spirit.
Methods of discernment if it lines up with the Word of God
• Who was the founder of this modality?
• What was his/her spirituality?
• What culture did it come out of?
• What were their beliefs?
• Who is their God or gods?
Many occult practices in Christianity need to be discerned. Another method of discernment is the Word of God. The word of God is our measuring stick. The more we read the word, know the word, and have a relationship with the Lord, the more we discern right and wrong. We perish from a lack of knowledge.
Hosea 4:6 declares, “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.”
By Teresa Morin, President of Touch of God Int'l Ministries of Healing and Deliverance
If you've been involved in a new age, occult, or cult, it can invite demonic spirits to torment you. If you feel tormented, you may need deliverance.
See list of occult practices.Free Group Deliverance Online, two times a month. Learn more about the webinar and sign up quickly.
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