A History of the Religious Use of Drugs

by ckaiserca

A History Of The Religious Use Of Drugs

Psychoactive drugs have historically been used for their pain-relieving qualities, euphoric mood enhancing, and hallucinogenic, mind-altering abilities.  Artists, authors, and other creative minds have tried to increase their artistic abilities by taking drugs.  Depressed individuals have found they can feel normal under the influence of drugs.  However, even before many of these uses, there was one use that is more controversial than any other: religious drug use.  Ancient people all over the world used various chemical derivatives to achieve an altered state of mind to speak with the gods or “celebrate…the god within us all.”

The ancient Greeks wrote of their “oracles” such as the famous Oracle at Delphi who were said to speak the words of the gods themselves.  These individuals often locked themselves into a room deep underground to pray and receive the messages the gods wished to send them.  Recently in Delphi, geologists have found the Oracle’s temple is atop a chemical vent that leaks hallucinogenic steam which they speculate was the source of the Oracle’s fantastic prophesies.

The Incas chewed coca leaves, from which cocaine is derived, for spiritual purposes only.  North Americans smoked the leaves of tobacco to “commune with the Great Spirit”.  Each culture carefully guarded the usage of these plants and severely punished any who attempted to abuse them for recreational use.  The peyote cactus was used by many Native American tribes “as an expression of thanksgiving, a request for guidance, or in support of a brother who wanted to give thanks or seek direction.”  Peyote was outlawed in the 1960s after increased recreational endangered people’s health.

Many people disagree with the use of psychoactive substances for religious use.  “Prayer, fasting, penance, and personal sacrifice are all acceptable forms of achieving greater connection with God and Spirit. Ingesting chemicals, sacramental plants, or other consciousness-altering substances is not.”  Others argue that psychoactive drugs can bring religious breakthroughs that are otherwise impossible.  “We’re like early man who says fire is too dangerous,” says Rick Doblin of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies.  “We’re not even at the stage where we’ve figured out that fire can keep you warm in winter.”