Religion as a Product of Psychotropic Drug Use

[Cliffy]

How much of religious history was influenced by mind-altering substances?
Richard J. Miller Dec 27 2013, 10:12 AM ET

WikimediaThe notion that hallucinogenic drugs played a significant part in the development of religion has been extensively discussed, particularly since the middle of the twentieth century. Various ideas of this type have been collected into what has become known as the entheogen theory. The word entheogen is a neologism coined in 1979 by a group of ethnobotanists (those that study the relationship between people and plants). The literal meaning of entheogen is "that which causes God to be within an individual" and might be considered as a more accurate and academic term for popular terms such as hallucinogen or psychedelic drug. By the term entheogen we understand the use of psychoactive substances for religious or spiritual reasons rather than for purely recreational purposes.


More: Religion as a Product of Psychotropic Drug Use - Richard J. Miller - The Atlantic

 

[petros]

Drugs are a short cut for those who can't synchronize their hemispheres.

 

[Cliffy]

Drugs are a short cut for those who can't synchronize their hemispheres.

The article is about the origins of religion.

 

[petros]

It wasn't from drugs.

 

[damngrumpy]

Now ain't that just great, the people who campaign for tougher drug laws
and want longer prison sentences for those who use drugs are by and large
in the grip of a religion created and enhanced by the use of drugs if this is
true.

 

[Cliffy]

Terence Mckenna - Culture is your operating system - YouTube

 

[petros]

McKenna was a crackpot

 

[darkbeaver]

The origin of religion is the rational mind where drugs impart information all the time anyway.

McKenna was a crackpot

Blasphemer, you should be stoned. Need a light?

 

[petros]

sh-t I missed beav.

 

[damngrumpy]

No wonder Moses wandered forty years in the desert he was looking for a light
instead he found a burning bush. When you think about it Moses went on a
vision quest much like native americans did and we know what they were smoking
too don't we

 

[Cliffy]

McKenna was a crackpot

Denial, denial! Remind us again how great your ayahuasca trip was.

 

[petros]

It was good but nothing religious about it.

 

[darkbeaver]

sh-t I missed beav.

It's too late, my heart is broken, I am rolling up a big hug for me.

 

[Cliffy]

It was good but nothing religious about it.

No, there is nothing religious about it. It is a spiritual journey, not a religious one. Maybe you missed the boat. Religion is the dogmatization of spirituality.

 

[petros]

How much of religious history was influenced by mind-altering substances?

You didn't post that?

 

[tay]

The article is about the origins of religion.

And the knowledge that hallucinogens caused many of the ancient 'story tellers' to be so grandiose isn't new but I'm glad to see someone has put this story out for all who may not have studied such a subject.


For example North American indigenous story tellers were very familiar with peyote .............

 

[petros]

Peyote grows Nor Am wide?

 

[Cliffy]

Peyote grows Nor Am wide?

But it was widely traded. Jimsonweed was another favourite. In the West Kootenays, there are at least 35 known hallucinogens growing wild. Rarely would any of them be consumed by anybody but the shamans and rarely for recreational purposes.

 

[petros]

Pipe carriers Cliffy, Pipe carriers.

 

[Cliffy]

Pipe carriers Cliffy, Pipe carriers.

Not all pipe carriers are shaman.