Psychedelics: The Ancient Religion with No Name?

The most influential religious historian of the twentieth century, Huston Smith, once referred to it as the "best-kept secret" in history. Did the ancient Greeks use drugs to find God? And did the earliest Christians inherit the same secret tradition? A profound knowledge of visionary plants, herbs, and fungi passed from one generation to the next, ever since the Stone Age?
This discussion on Febrary 1, 2021, between CSWR Director Charles Stang and Brian Muraresku about his new book, "The Immortality Key: The Secret History of the Religion with No Name," a groundbreaking dive into the role of psychedelics in the ancient Mediterranean world.
Brian C. Muraresku graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Brown University in 2002 with a degree in Latin, Greek and Sanskrit. As an alumnus of Georgetown Law and a member of the New York Bar, he has been practicing law internationally for fifteen years. In arbitration with the NFL in 2018, Muraresku represented the first professional athlete in the United States to seek a therapeutic use exemption for cannabis. Their story was featured by Sanjay Gupta on CNN’s Weed series. The Immortality Key was published by St. Martin’s Press in September 2020. Muraresku launched his instant bestseller on The Joe Rogan Experience and has now appeared on CNN, NPR, Sirius XM, goop and The Weekly Dish with Andrew Sullivan. He has been featured in Forbes, The Daily Beast, Big Think and VICE. All media to date is available here: www.brianmuraresku.com/. Muraresku lives outside Washington D.C. with his wife and two daughters.
Charles Stang is Professor of Early Christian Thought at HDS and is the Director of the Center for the Study of World Religions. His most recent book, "Our Divine Double," was published in 2016 by Harvard University Press. His earlier book, "Apophasis and Pseudonymity in Dionysius the Areopagite: 'No Longer I' "(Oxford University Press, 2012), won the Manfred Lautenschläger Award for Theological Promise in 2013. Stang is also editor of "The Waking Dream of T.E. Lawrence: Essays on His Life, Literature, and Legacy" (Palgrave, 2002); with Sarah Coakley, "Rethinking Dionysius the Areopagite" (Wiley-Blackwell, 2009); with David Lincicum and Ruth Sheridan, "Law and Lawlessness in Early Judaism and Christianity" (Mohr Siebeck, 2019). Stang’s current projects include an anthology of Syriac Christian literature, a new translation of Evagrius of Pontus’s Gnostic Trilogy from Greek and Syriac, and an edited volume on Theosophy’s influence on the study of religion.

[@wipsishrooms279]

I can 110% relate to the woman who was atheist and felt bathed in gods love. I had that same exact experience on psilocybin when I was 15. I was agnostic at the time of the experience and you just cannot put into words the magnitude of these experiences. It was completely unexpected. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. The visuals and the power I experienced was baffling and totally changed my whole perspective on life. I also felt born again after this excruciating force of destruction on my perspective. It only takes one time and Im highly grateful this happened to me at such a young age. Im now 32 years old and theres nothing to this day that was more profound than that experience. After that, I started looking into the connections between mushrooms and religion and boom! There is was... the lost and possibly suppressed ancient religion. I knew there was more to it. Thank you for the video! Bless up!

[@eliasekstrom6660]

I smoked Dmt once. I saw A giant spider trying to kill me. it had the heads of my mom and dad.A fucking horryfing experience :D But also, a good experience, believe it or not.

[@Zacchus]

I love this. Very similar to my start with entheogens at around 16 or 17. I’m 37 and still use them in higher doses a couple times per year as well as microdose with them.

[@michaelmaher4328]

@@Zacchus do you get benifits from lower doses? I know that the magic happens when the doses are heroic, but damn its hard on me when i've done it. I guess im asking if small doses are better than large doses?

[@Zacchus]

@@michaelmaher4328 I definitely believe smaller (micro) doses are beneficial. I tend to trust in the things Paul Stamets says about mushrooms and I’ve tried his “Stamets stack” but the Niacin flush can be pretty uncomfortable. But I definitely think of microdosing like I think of vitamins - you don’t really notice if vitamins are benefiting your health but it’s safe to assume they do. And I think it’s safe to assume that any amount of psilocybin probably increases neuroplasticity and probably neurogenesis as well.

[@rolandwiederaenders177]

This was excellent. I appreciated the challenging questions from Stang, keeping this "real". I also appreciate Brian's consistent adherence both to the facts and to what the facts suggest. Thanks for this work guys, you are doing something important for the church and for the men and women the church can minister to.

[@wernerretief4569]

As a musician and a music teacher I find this fascinating. As a church organist I found that music is a kind of drug that serves an essential emotional need. Maybe the religious use of psychedelics is just the other side of the same coin.

[@bethbartlett5692]

Brian Murarasku - a new find for me and I look forward to his works. *He speaks with competent fluid knowledge of his subjects and this I value greatly for it's a worthy achievement or gift.* Excellent speaker!

[@toddwmac]

A great discussion on a great book. If you have not read it, or even if you have, consider listening to it. Brian's narration combined with his command of ancient languages makes the audio version outstanding.

[@bravetraveler1386]

Thank you all for having this discussion. I believe it is important and would be interested to hear more on this subject from others

[@RedMexGolfer]

FANTASTIC Discussion! Been reading/listening to Brian's book and this talk was informative due to the well-thought out questions!

[@mollyrawford5834]

I loved watching this interview. I loved how you made your intentions clear. Such a fascinating subject.

[@BrandonRussMedium]

Beyond amazing conversation. Intelligent, thought provoking and without bias to allow the 'what ifs'

[@jasonsummers311]

Verily I enjoyed this interview. The major thing I've learned about history is that what is written is never all that was. This was a fascinating exploration into a subject and theory that I've had before but discarded due to the categorization of taboo by select religions. The overall gift of awareness from this viewing is phenomenal. Thank you!

[@eulldog]

@Darren You don't know what you are talking about. They are not deceptive, they are literally what jesus and other religious leaders have been referring to, to die before you die and have ever lasting life. The real deception is that of the modern church, to just believe god had a son and that you are unworthy of love unless you believe their doctrine.

[@del-marmare1646]

excellent discussion. Cordial and insightful.

[@eylamlangotsky5449]

wonderful discussion, thanx. Beyond the Chemicals, the Psychedelics, Religious history, we simply speak of expanding Perception, taking spirituality into a "perceptuality", this is perhaps the future of culture.

[@jonathantaylor9664]

Nothing on my spiritual path has inspired the desire for true transformation more than the psychedelic experience. No book, no scripture, no teacher, no guru, no meditation, no prayer, nothing even comes close to this sacred and holy experience. And for all of those people out there saying you can do the same with meditation but have never taken psychedelics, you're scared and you're lying to yourself. You can't fool me. The psychedelic experience is one of the only (if not THE only) source of consciously interactive experiential Truth left unadulterated by the hands of ego. No man may pervert the words of THAT Great book. Man made laws may forbid it currently, but when has Truth ever been accepted with ease? Our Mothers message, sealed in her flora, is a reflection of the creative consciousness. A direct link to the Divine. And it will be heard far and wide. So Mote It Be!

[@jacobcurtis]

Thank You for posting

[@Amadeu.Macedo]

Outstanding and illuminating report! Yet, because I have read (actually, listened to) but two chapters of Mr. Muraresku's splendid book, I decided to save this video (after watching it for merely two minutes) for later viewing, so that I may be poised to fully appreciate it, in due time. Only then can the content of your production, perhaps help me improve, adjust and/or update any details "improperly processed" that I may find necessary to attend.

[@nancypitt3599]

Awesome..I just started reading his book a few days ago...

[@jailtheology]

Professor Stang continuing to probe into the deepest and most cutting edge areas of Christian history. Though not needed for revelation of Christ, the LORD appears to have put these substances in our landscape in order to help us (i.e., to help us be pulled by Him) toward loss of self, and into GOD-ecstasy. My only puzzlement, perhaps petty, is that Muraresku is a psychedelic virgin, as he puts it (saying that somewhat in jest, but also somewhat serious, in my surprise).

[@sheilaramsey846]

And ‘proudly’ a psychedelic virgin? 🤔

[@randeebuss8671]

Unfortunately he is aware that he has to remain drug free in order to be taken seriously and keep credit to his name and research. It’s sad that drugs are used as a powerful tool for skeptics to label and categorize someone to be of low moral character and untrustworthy. He has expressed his interest in having a psychedelic experience after publishing his research and putting a spotlight on the subject in hopes that true professionals will begin to investigate this forgotten history. Brian should be highly awarded for his discovery and perseverance in this subject. Can’t be more excited to see what else he is going to discover

[@beefyogurt]

bamboozled that he'd never done psychedelics yet so intrigued about their history and how it ties into modern religion

[@michaelg1569]

He said it might be because psychedelics may not meet his expectations (fear of disappointment?). I can say the God molecule will very likely exceed his expectations.

[@ChristopherCarlson333]

me as well. it occured at a time in my life after my best friends mother had just died. ( the first person in my life of any significance who had " gone on" ) the first time in my early thirties yr. old existence i felt Gods grace- a type mercy i knew i definitely did not deserve.

[@jennyalonzo4733]

lol..."Goop. I don't even know what that is." Best statement! Aside from this light moment that literally made me laugh out loud, this was a great conversation!

[@marjoriegoodwin2993]

I totally believe this. The drawings in caves in France, done in utter darkness by shamans, have brought me to think about this for years. Psychedelics are certainly capable of making it possible to see quite well in the darkness. I say this from experience.

[@AndrashSpooshkash]

If the big question is "did drugs find their way into early Christian ceremony", the big answer is "why not?"

[@CapIvo214]

However, why yes? The practice of the early church does not mention and drugs in it's practice. Moreover, fights against drunks and considers they will not inherit the Kingdom of heaven

[@bethbartlett5692]

Graham Hancock would be a good resource on this subject. His research is clarifying.

[@eulldog]

graham wrote the foreword to this book

[@proudatheist2042]

I another chat, Brian mentioned one of Graham Hancock's books as a must read.

[@bethbartlett5692]

Excellent Guest and content discussion! But... Harvard! Do you need a reminder of the difference between Religion and Spirituality, Spiritual Practice? *"Ask your favorite Sociologist."* 😘 ...and give David Reich, PhD, Geneticist, my best regards, such respect for this "Authentic Academic" ("Authentic Academics" follow the "Standards of Science and Research" vs the "Mainstream Academics" which hold a Theory, a 19th Century Theory, as their fact foundation, from which they Produced its relative developed Paradigm. Notice this is very much a defining of myth) Very much respect Dr Reich and he literally is considered "the expert" in his field of Research and Migration Data Mapping. I've become a Huge fan of him as an ethical Individual and then his work.

[@FaithflNdscreet]

I think it's right there in the Bible in Acts chapter 2. Regardless of whether or not it's historically factual, even if it's just a story, that story in my opinion is trying to tell you something. First of all, it's attributed to a man who's profession is based in the study of nature, a physician (which is what that word originally meant in Greek). Second, it happened during the feast of Pentacost which of course celebrates the wheat harvest-wheat, where ergot grows. And then we have people speaking in tongues, feeling the holy spirit like a fire (St Anthony's fire?) and thousands purportedly deciding to get baptized then and there (after becoming very suggestible perhaps?) And later on in the chapter there's a very sudden switch to everyone all of a sudden becoming fearful lol c'mon now! It's right there

[@japanlovernumber1]

Was Silphium mentioned? Is there ae connection to this mysterious plant?

[@JohnnySixshooter]

Superb interview. I think it is reasonable to consider that some if not all of the apostles used it.

[@judithwiser8648]

Is the temple at Baalbak connected to this? I know German archeology was done there. Also connected to goddesses of wine and fertility when Romans took it over. Pottery and evidence of fertility rituals including dancing? Were you able to go there Brian? (just ordered your fascinating concept based book)

[@junevandermark952]

What a difference one word can make. Just imagine, if the term “near death experiences,” had been “near death hallucinations,” what a difference it would have made to those reading the words. And just imagine, concerning the subject of psychedelics, if rather than “mind manifesting,” … the term had been “mind hallucinating” … what a difference it would make to those reading the words. From the book … How to Change Your Mind. What the New Science of Psychedelics teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addictions, Depression, and Transcendence. Author, Michael Pollan. Published 2018 ... Despite the 1960 trappings, the term “psychedelic,” coined in 1956, is etymologically accurate. Drawn from the Greek, it means simply “mind manifesting,” which is precisely what these extraordinary molecules hold the power to do.

[@Owl-of-Minerva]

"We need someone or something new Something else to get us through...calling on the God's" Soft Parade, J D Morrison

[@annascott3542]

Traces of cannabis found on an alter at an archeological site in Israel, lends credence this theory. To me, the psychedelic/altered state hypothesis and early religion make the most sense- and that goes for all religions- how else did they come up with this stuff.

[@ZONEDINN528]

Or a bunch of teenagers smoking pot in an abandoned building... after the community stopped using it, and before it became buried, and later an archeological site.

[@claudiaxander]

Eluesis is Soma Manna Fest!

[@voidisyinyangvoidisyinyang885]

qigong masters can transform wine back into water! I trained from Chunyi Lin who described doing this. Other qigong masters also do this.

[@hackenstring]

After watching this Stang guy for an hour or so, the question is: why does he deny knowing what GOOP is? He knows. He knows.

[@davidnance9678]

the ejeption blue water lilly has DMT in it ! the paintings on timple walls show them sniffing the blue water lillys , DMT is the active part of iowaska brew ,apoliqise for my poor spelling , talk to denis Mkinna ! you'all keep up the great work !!!!!

[@Ricardvs]

i think there’s something misguided in the view implied by Brian that “taking” “communion” should involve some sort of feeling on the part of the communicant. i just don’t think that represents a scriptural view of what happens at the table. we don’t ingest the bread as if it’s the dune spice melange. rather the risen one is communicated in the *breaking* of the bread. right? isn’t that what luke says in acts?

[@gumballbizzley6928]

I really appreciate Brains research, I'm very familiar with the feeling of being bathed in Gods love because, I've taken Mushrooms' twice now and both trips were similar at the core. I now Know true love, feeling connection and one with the world. This is a real feeling and not just wishy washy talk. Now when I read the bible, It's not far fetched to me, what Jesus was preaching was this particular feeling, It is unexplainable, one can only use examples or metaphors or parables to try and explain the feeling of "Gods love" or Universal love, the unity in Universe. There is nothing like looking into another person eyes and seeing your own reflection, I wants to hug everyone I saw, and ask them, really ask them, how it felt to be them in their body!😂 I wanted to take my shoes off, I wanted to be with nature, the whole natural world looked liked fractals, the golden ratio was manifesting itself everywhere everywhere. I experienced an ego death. I've never been materialistic but I've never felt such a connection to nature as I did with my trips. A proper reference I can think of is from the movie Brother bear, in that I could almost "talk to animals".. not talk with language, but sort of enter the natural realm. Complicated😪 I suspect that capitalism is behind the idea of telling the world that Jesus was actually drinking wine as we know it today, and not the real potion. if churches were actually handing out Gods Blood, people would come to know Gold and that would be that. but wine keeps people flocking back to church for more and never really awakening to their true identity. I suspect that churches hand out wine in the name of Jesus, for the same reasons pharmacies hand out medication, not to heal people primarily, but to profit first. I mean look at the Vatican City, behind the beauty and taste of its art and architecture, is just a big ass pile of money. Capitalism, it always wins!🙄

[@gimbutas1]

Is this death and rebirth like "SlingShot" ? Ruck is now investigating Egypt.

[@heysmitty1231]

Martin Luther's first sermon he could not complete.When asked why he said don't you understand I was standing there with the blood of Christ in my hands.. This from a good confirmed Lutheran boy...

[@geoffreynhill2833]

NB: This succeeds Brian Mukaresku's appearance with Jordan Peterson and deserves more viewers.

[@geoffreynhill2833]

Is there really any clear distinction between early "love potions" and the subsequent :"ecstasy drugs" ? To obfuscate - clarify? - a little further: The Greeks distinguished three kinds of love - divine, erotic and storgic (affection). It's possible that any single potion or mix of their potions did the job. A further possibility is that alcohol - beer or wine - was added to the "psychedelic" potions in order to ensure a measure of relaxation helpful to the otherwise often fierce experience.

[@geoffreynhill2833]

Yes, Brian, the Jesuits get a bum rap! Even intelligent atheists know that.

[@geoffreynhill2833]

In short, my argument is that maybe the psychedelics were spiked with alcohol, NOT vice versa. Way to go, guys!

[@geoffreynhill2833]

PS: "Die before you die!" is not an encouraging slogan, given the widespread fear of death these days, even among the "religious". You very rarely find fear of death among those who've taken psychedelics. Quite the opposite.

[@valeriecalder1273]

Fabulous conversation. Jesus said “do this in remembrance of me” in doing this you show the Lords death until he comes. I feel Jesus didn’t mean it was his actual blood. In the same way the bread is an emblem to show his death until he comes, not real flesh. Thank you.

[@chewyjello1]

Can't help but wonder if Brian has watched Midnight Mass. Puts a different spin on the Eucharist for sure lol.

[@michaelg1569]

You can take the scenic route or the direct route. Ayahuasca, psilocybin, mescaline, NnDMT and LSD are all warmups, precursors to the God molecule (5meoDMT). For me, it’s been no-self with no choice (there has been no precursor). It is the experience of dying, but only the first moments. It will be missed if not previously experienced (ref: first bardo). Liberation in the first bardo is dying without dying. Rebirth is dying again to the knowledge of who we are. Upon re-entering the dream, there is a knowing that our lives are perfect designed by the God who is us.

[@mrs_Mccoy]

I'd appreciate your comment

[@mrs_Mccoy]

I bought some psychedelic products from a Drugstore online

[@mrs_Mccoy]

FROM TRIP_PHARMACIST

[@mrs_Mccoy]

They are on Instagram

[@bernardofitzpatrick5403]

Love it. If shrooms were offered in church now I would be there every Sunday 😂 love brown 🦮 chilling on the chair.

[@George-ur8ow]

Utilizing psychedelics in an effort to reach a higher spirituality is a fruitless path that will lead to self delusion, not revelation. I do not claim to deny any individual experiences one may have, but only whether said experiences are, in toto, actually fruitful to an individual's spiritual growth. If one is seeking to solely, or even in part achieve contact with the spiritual world through the use of pyschedelia, then I categorically deny the utility of such an approach. However, If one were to use (preferably, naturally occuring) substances in an effort to reset or remediate chemical imbalances or other issues, then that is altogether a different approach (and one that should be considered a last resort, after diet and lifestyle changes). To tie the two approaches together would be conflating physical health and spiritual health. Again, psychedelics, utilized solely for or in part for obtaining entry into or knowledge of the spiritual realm will only provide a cheap, false mirage, a knock off substitute for true spiritual attainment, which is not achieved so haphazardly. This is a spineless, saccharine substitute devoid of any nutritional content; in fact, especially so over the long-term, exceedingly harmful. A distraction at best, especially so considering that those that fall into such lifestyles delude themselves into thinking they have found the solution, and thus need not expend the blood and tears of repentence and purification in an effort to conform one's life to that of Christ's. A periodic dipping into psychedelia is all that is needed to achieve spiritual health and growth, apparently. Psychedelia, used in an effort to participate or contact the spiritual realm cannot help to assist in achieving Theosis (meaning synergy with God, or one's participation in the Divine Energy, but not the Divine Essence of God). Theosis requires purification. Purification requires repentance and humility. The Holy Spirit will not inhabit that which is unclean. Psychedelia is in no way, shape or form a substitution for these struggles. The speaker has an Orthodox background, whether he knows it or not (his last name is Romanian). For someone who mentions the motto of the Monks of Athos as the first thing he does ("We come here to die so that when we die, we won't die) without mentioning it's Orthodox origin is quite strange. Especially so since the speaker's central thesis is to proffer flimsily accounted for historic evidence of pagan-based pyschedelic use in an effort to obsfucate and muddy it with the mystery of the Eucharist celebrated during the Divine Liturgy. Anyone with a basic understanding of Orthodox theology can see how deluded this is. I am not a member of the clergy nor a monstastic, but am a sinner and Orthodox layman who has spent a significant amount of time exploring these subjects. Much like Fr. Seraphim, I've come to the conclusion that the last stop on the search for Truth is indeed the Orthodox Church. Theosis is the entire point of our faith; one that is achieved over the course of a lifetime by carrying one's cross, not by the use of short-lasting psychedlics, however often they might be used.

[@williambornschein35]

Who put the bop in the bop-she-bop?

[@gaggle57]

He doesn’t realize that he might be more likely to have a profound mystical experience during a trip planned as a playful, fun trip and conversely, an overly drawn out attempt to induce a psychedelic nirvana could turn out to be underwhelming or even a bummer.

[@mrs_Mccoy]

I'd appreciate your comment

[@mrs_Mccoy]

I bought some psychedelic products from a Drugstore online

[@mrs_Mccoy]

FROM TRIP_PHARMACIST

[@mrs_Mccoy]

They are on Instagram

[@SoultalkOG]

I had a concussion when I was younger questioning my beliefs, leading to me being atheist for a short time. I went into my spiritual journey with the question what is god. And through mushrooms they told me the answers. God is everything of creation. God is the universe, the stars, the laws the govern this reality, everything. We are God hiding behind ego. Though we can’t reach the true fullness of God we can still be a part of God. All religions in the basics, to me, are teaching people to be messiahs, prophets, saints, light workers, Shepards of the world. And with this belief and dissolution of ego we can achieve this.

[@franklylayer4313]

I was able to purchase mine from this online store and they deliver to any location

[@franklylayer4313]

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[@George-ur8ow]

Yes, we can be a part of God's divine energy, but not God's essence. This is at the Heart of Orthodox Christian Theology, called "Theosis". Roman Catholicism has some bits and pieces, but not the complete picture. Amidst the 10,000 Protestant denominations, only Methodism (as far as I am aware) has a concept of somewhat similar terminology; though, like Rome, only having bits and pieces of the full picture. Something tells me you would enjoy exploring Theosis and the essence-energy distinction in Orthodoxy. Plenty of good resources here on youtube. "[God] has given us exceedingly great and precious promises, through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." 2 Peter 1:4

[@toddbutler3155]

Circumstantial evidence can be probative and a reasonable jury can base a verdict entirely on circumstantial evidence so long as the inferences drawn from the circumstantial evidence are reasonable and not the product of rank and unfounded speculation

[@franklylayer4313]

It feels amazing to know about psychedelics all thanks to this online store I was able to get some mushrooms and they got some lsd gummies cannabis xtc and another stuffs

[@franklylayer4313]

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[@franklylayer4313]

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[@franklylayer4313]

They're got great psychedelics products

[@Frederer59]

I think benefit from psychedelics is in the kick-start one-time or very rare, life-changing experience. When overused it becomes a counterfeit experience where addiction and tragedy all too often results. People have a romantic view of plants. Who domesticated who? And do plants have any interest in our long-term health. Like Michael Pollan alluded to, maybe we are just useful idiots for plants to propagate and expand their range at a critical time in their reproductive period? 🍻

[@CapIvo214]

As a priest in one of the oldest branch of Christianity, I'll say that considering Eucharist as psychedelic is contrary to the practice and teaching of the church. Yes, it could be intrigued for some, however, for those who know what Eucharist means, it's just another title of a book aiming to shock.

[@bradbear]

Have you read the book? It is extremely well researched and Brian has never done psychedelics If you’re interested in more people being attracted to some of the ideas Christianity has to offer then understanding the need for communal ritual in culture that a “psychedelic wine” could offer is transformational if done in the right context as opposed to the form of Eucharist that is practiced today. You need to meet people where they’re at.

[@bellezavudd]

Church of christ leaders- Kill the pagans. Destroy knowkwdge of the shroom and plant world by burning the "witches" ... Afterward : We dont want you touching those demonic plants !

[@brownhornetseventhre]

love potion lotus flower 😉

[@DigitalBard1]

Just wondering if either of these two men have partaken in estoric use. Or are they purely speculating from texts books, and science papers. By the way psychedelics is a modern word. The shamanic term is plant teacher. At least get the interconnecting language correct.

[@Ryan-xq3kl]

i would argue that human understanding of psychedelics is sort of like the plants understanding of water. our whole lives are psychedelic, our brains can only run with serotonergic receptors which are the same ones that can recieve tryptamines. we cannot really create a spiritual ritual because spirit is different from human body experience. psychedelics only outline the border of our reality they cannot be made maleable at the experience level.

[@grainofsand4176]

hahaha! "Not to 'babble on' " (:

[@anthonye7216]

Wasn't evidence of drug use in ancient Egypt substantiated through hair samples from mummies in the late 90's?

[@waysofseeing1]

Hold my beer, I'll have what Jesus is drinking.

[@Theredrain6]

nice dog

[@Gerdaldfighterkid]

Utopia

[@hiphophistorycanada]

Brian looks like the karate kid

[@jus1085]

Brian is going to have to pop that cherry sooner or later...he has built a tremendous amount of framework, done his due dilligence, and its now its time for a 2 to 3 gram dose of cubensis.

[@Ryan-xq3kl]

smaller doses are ok too, theres literally no one to impress. take it as it comes

[@therougesage7466]

Its called shamanism

[@bethbartlett5692]

Yes, but we're talking "Academics that are extorting expanding their experiences, having been so contained in a Mainstream Socialiized Environment", with that in mind, this is a "Step" outside the comfort level. Encourage their exploration of the greater reality. They been "schooled in the Dogma of the Darwinian Theory, Linear Timeline, Cult-like Loyality, and Fear" for so long. (DNA is our Friend!) Best Wellbeing ...

[@bethbartlett5692]

@@jaymidavern2620 ❤

[@ottovonbismarck6310]

Couldn’t get past the dry intro.

[@yahya2925]

"The religion with no name" is "Deen Al-Fitrah" دِين الفِطْرَة

[@blackreazor]

I was an atheist for 31 years til i started communig thru dmt

[@watermelonlalala]

He smells like he is from some intel group, same as the Holy Blood, Holy Grail guys and the ergot beer guys.

[@diegob5608]

I sense so much jealousy from the Harvard dude.

[@EduardoGarcia-vu5ts]

jesus. Charles try just talking to your guests and not just reading a script. this sounds like a robot reading a book. this almost ruined the interview.

[@maxheedrum100]

Psychedlics is a form of pharmakia; Greek word φαρμακεία, transliterated pharmakeia, which means 'sorcery' and is prohibited in the bible. The apostle Paul lists sorcery as one of many sinful practices that mark the lives of unbelievers: “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife . . . and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21). Interestingly, the New Testament Greek word translated “sorcery” is pharmakeia, which is the source of our English word pharmacy. In Paul’s day, the word primarily meant “dealing in poison” or “drug use” and was applied to divination and spell-casting because sorcerers often used drugs along with their incantations and amulets to conjure occult power.

[@a.kstudio2306]

i thing that there is nothing called religion, just few fool humans believe in that.

[@stuartwilliams-fw4vo]

Stang completely spoils this interview. We want to listen to his guest, not him.

[@stuartwilliams-fw4vo]

Stang needs to practice asking questions in a plain and cogent way. His ‘too clever by half ‘ style is painful to listen to.

[@retribution999]

Jesus didn't need psychodelics he had the holy spirit. There is no evidence for this proposition whatsoever. Are you going to suggest that all christian mystics including St Theresa and St John of the Cross were also using psychodelics?

[@alphabett66]

Starvation, and isolation, vis a vis meditative mind alteration is not functionality distinct from drug induced mind alteration.

[@retribution999]

@@alphabett66 if you read the Christian mystics you will soon see otherwise.

[@alphabett66]

I think you mean, starve yourself and walk into the desert to find out. The definition of mysticism is personal experience with God, and reading doesn't give one that experience.

[@I3lindMan]

It seems that there are many paths to the mystical encounter. The more pertinent questions seem to be, "Is the mystical experience that is often brought about with psychedelic chemicals that same as the mystical experience brought about from meditation/prayer, fasting, near death experience, and Grace?" and similarly if they are the same the question "Is this mystical experience from psychedelics less legitimate than others for any valid reason?" I spent many years in many churches and never once heard the term "mysticism". It seems to me, especially int he west, that we are a people that are starving for genuine spiritual experience and it seems that most modern churches have forgotten how to show us the way.

[@retribution999]

@@I3lindMan yes I agree..Mystical experience is positively frowned upon in the church. Perhaps CG Jung was right when he said that the church was there to prevent people from having mystical experience. William Blake realized this.

[@bayreuth79]

There just is no evidence for Muraresku's hypothesis and that is why no serious scholar accepts it. I find it incredibly irritating that this charlatan is given so much attention.

[@randeebuss8671]

Go watch his podcast with joe rogan and do a quick 5 minute search on google and you will be amazed by the large amount of proof he has compiled in the past ten years. Also many highly respected scholars and research scientists have accepted his research and theories on the matter

[@ceilingspirits1592]

He has far more evidence for his claims than those asserting a man rising from the dead

[@bayreuth79]

@@ceilingspirits1592 I wonder if you have read N T Wright's 800-page book _The Resurrection of the Son of God_ ? It presents a historical argument for the resurrection. Of course the reason why most people reject the resurrection has _nothing_ to do with the evidence but simply because their worldview will not allow for it. If the universe is a closed metaphysical system in which their are only physical causes then of course the resurrection did not occur; but do we _know_ that? Of course we don't. Only dogmatic atheists could believe something as unpersuasive as that. If God exists then the resurrection is obviously _possible_ . Do we know that God does not exist? No. Do we have any defeaters against the existence of God? No. Now, even the most sceptical NT scholars will admit that _something astonishing happened to the disciples of Jesus to make them believe that he was raised from the dead_ . The question is: what was that? The most parsimonious explanation for the rise of early Christianity is that Jesus really was raised from the dead.

[@voidisyinyangvoidisyinyang885]

He doesn't claim that the "immortality key" is psychedelics as he also relies on Peter Kingsley's research on PreSocratic meditation as the Logos.

[@bellezavudd]

The evidence is present in a few ways. The most obvious is in psychedelics themselves. Take them in a religious setting and pay attention to the voice and its word. If thats to daunting you can just fall back on the scientific findings via chemical analysis of ancient ritual props.

[@scientifico]

Christianity (at least the anglicized version as practiced today) has become politicized and bloodless, appealing more to the abstracted and intellectual neuroses of the modern age than the timeless elevation and EVOLUTION of the human spirit towards the god consciousness. The wisdom of the human body (as an all-inclusive concept of mind AND body vs. mind VERSUS body as found in modern christianity) is a nod to the fact that for all our technology, all our material advances, we are mere generations from our hunter/gatherer ancestors. 300,000-2 million years this physical form is still responding to "fight or flight", or attraction by hormones, or enlightened perspective by ingesting certain chemicals. Its time to see our ancient selves with modern eyes and figure out how we can meld the two for the world we have created.