Use Of Hallucinogenic Drugs In Religion

I've been watching the recent National Geographic series called "Taboo" that considers current practices, which Western Society generally does not accept. One episode was about certain tribes that use the hallucinogenic cacti - peyote. The program showed how the entire village would make a pilgrimage to the sacred place and collect the peyote. This was done by entire families including children, who also took part in the peyote ceremony by taking the hallucinogenic cacti buttons. The way in which those Mexicans went about this custom was done with complete reverence for the Earth and spiritual intentions. I was impressed at how they prayed and left offerings for the Spirits where they harvested the peyote. That pilgrimage originally took those villages 45 days to complete, but with property boundaries they are now forced to ride to their destination by truck.

Since studying Sociology, I've gained a much deeper appreciation for other cultures and realise that what is normal or accepted in our society differs greatly from many indigenous peopleís beliefs and customs ñ and visa versa.

Anyway, that program reminded me of a paper that I wrote about 5 years ago on that very same subject. Since my original version is very long, Iíve included just selected bits for the sake of this forum. I hope you will find it as interesting to read, as I found it to research.

Use of Hallucinogenic Drugs in Religion

References to the ritual use of drugs in connection to religion are evident throughout recorded history. This practice no doubt has itís origins in prehistory, and we may never conclusively discover where or how the practice actually began. Ancient Egyptian papyri mention elixirs to enhance oneís religious experiences, especially the Blue Lilly Blossom. Mushroom shaped statues found while examining ancient Mayan archaeological sites suggest the use of hallucinogenic mushrooms was a regular part of that civilisationís culture. Ceremonial use of Cannabis among the Scythians in the 5th to 2nd centuries BC mentions censers being used to burn hemp seeds found in frozen tombs at Pazyryk in the Altai Mountains.

The ancient Greeks used wine in Dionysian rites, and circumstantial evidence points to the use of a hallucinogenic substance in the most solemn moments of the Eleusinian mysteries of ancient Greece. The drinking of Kykeon, a thick mixture of unknown ingredients believed to be hallucinogenic in nature suggests this as true. Both the secular and religious use of the hallucinogenic mushroom Amanita Mascaria in Siberia date back at least 6,000 years. This practice spread to other areas as the result of migration or trade / travels. Evidence of the cultic use of Opium in the eastern Mediterranean islands and both Greece and ancient Sumerian civilisations dates to as early as 3000 BC.

Ancient Persian religious belief centred around Zoroastrianism, part of this cultís regular practice was to use hallucinogenic drinks called Kaoma, made from the Amanita Mascaria mushroom.

The very early Indian religious groups also used this hallucinogenic mushroom to make a fluid called Soma. The mushrooms were consumed and the mind-affecting chemicals would pass into the urine, and then be re-cycled into the ìSacred Drinkî. The mushroom which does not grow in hot countries may have been introduced by Aryan invaders from the north.

The early forms of Islam, which prohibit the use of alcoholic drinks, used Cannabis instead. The fanatical sect known as the Assassins, founded in the 11th Century, used Hashish (as their name illustrates), to induce highly excited frenzies. This group was secretive and greatly feared, because of their fanatical allegiance to their leader, who would send them on murderous assignments. Sensational stories reported by Marco Polo and others, of the use of Hashish to heighten the homicidal proclivities of the sect were widely accepted as true.

In the Pacific Islands, especially Fiji, the early use of Kava has been documented for centuries. The same may be said for the cultic use of drugs like Iboga, in equatorial Africa. The Rastafarians of the West Indies smoke cannabis called Ganga, as a regular part of their religious experience.

Some of the best documentation of hallucinogenic drug use in the New World comes from Spanish Conquistador records. Early reports mention mushroom shaped images found in Guatemala and these were connected to a mushroom cult dating back to Mayan times. Columbus reported the use of Hallucinogenic Snuffs as used by the native peoples of the New World. There is evidence of the use of Psychotropic Mushrooms in the coronation of the Aztec emperor Montezuma in 1502. The inquisition of New Spain in June of 1620 published an order prohibiting the use of ìSacred Mushroomsî and Peyote. This order did not stop the Peyote Cult to continue its use. Spanish reports of North American expeditions mention the use of Ololiuqui and Peyote among the natives.

Central and South America, Shamanism has been the traditional spiritual experience of the indigenous people for centuries, probably dating back to pre-Columbian times. The Shaman performs many functions for the tribe. He is a healer, psychic visionary, communicator with the ìSpirits of the Jungleî and finder of lost or stolen objects. South and Central American Shamanism have traditionally used the hallucinogenic Psilocybin Mushroom as an integral part of its mystical experience. The South American shaman enjoys considerable prestige and authority among tribal members.

Native Indians believe that the Shaman also has magical power to change his form into that of an animal of the jungle, usually a Jaguar or eagle. It is possible that a certain form of Shamanism was diffused on the two American continents with the first waves of immigrants from Asia. Among many North American Indian tribes Shamanism constitutes the most important aspect of tribal religious life. The Shaman or Medicine Man is characterised by the supernatural power he acquires as a direct result of Hallucinogenic Mushroom or Peyote ingestion. Generally, this power is utilised for the mutual benefit of the entire tribe. The Shaman plays an important role in all aspects of magio-medical affairs within the tribe. There is considerable evidence that modern Native Indian secret / mystical groups still continue the ecstatic activity that once characterised Shamanism.

One primary example of this is the foundation in 1918 of the Native American Church, in Oklahoma. These Native People insist on their right to follow their religious beliefs in the ancient way. One important part of that belief structure is ritualistic use of the hallucinogenic cactus - Peyote. The Native American Church has developed into a syncretistic religion, differing from tribe to tribe. This religion mixes ancient tribal beliefs and Christian elements. The ritual surrounding Peyote ingestion is a highly symbolic night - long ceremony. Peyote itself is highly venerated and often referred as a gift of the ìPeyote Spiritî. It is considered to possess and offer the user magical protection, healing power, psychic vision, and access to hidden knowledge and be a guide that helps the worshipper. Because hallucinogenic drugs tend to invoke subjective experiences, they can be of great value to the individual. Small communities have continued to this day to use Peyote for religious purposes. The American Government recognises this as an inherent right of Native Indian Peoples in America, and therefore allows it to be. The cultís practices are called Peyotism.

I'll close with this quote: "We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy is when men are afraid of the light." Plato

All the Best,
Deep

nice work

I dont know much about hallucinogenic drugs in religion but I did see a documentary in my pyschology class dealing with some people in Japan (dont know what religion they are) taking religious pilgrammages to the woods at like 20 degree weather and doing mushrooms and meditating while doing it.

It was intresting, they claimed they were talking to dead spirits and even one was shown talking to one... maybe it they were mad high.

Thanks Illmatic67, I appreciate your comments!

Cheers,
Deep

Jesus was almost certainly a cannabis user and an early proponent of the medicinal properties of the drug, according to a study of scriptural texts published this month. The study suggests that Jesus and his disciples used the drug to carry out miraculous healings.

(...)

..."If cannabis was one of the main ingredients of the ancient anointing oil... and receiving this oil is what made Jesus the Christ and his followers Christians, then persecuting those who use cannabis could be considered anti-Christ," Mr Bennett concludes. ...

Guardian Unlimited, More...

Having first hand knowledge of the psychotropic abilities of the above mentioned plants, and including the San Pedro catus and Datura. I can without a doubt say that they have a undeniable affect on what one considers reality.

The only question I have, is how did the first experimenters (since all these plants and thier respective preparations, taste bl##dy alwful to say the least) overcome the natural human instinct to spit out or regurgitate any thing that tastes so repugnant ( as all of these do, especially the Catus and Datura preparations).



[Edited on 11-5-2003 by Maddas]

Isn't there a theory that Man and our style of consciousness made the evolutionary leap, away from our ancestors, because we ate psychoactive plants and they didn't?

ive seen taboo a few times. one time some women drank her own piss because it would apparently heal her. great for any piss fetishists.

He did promote peace and love.

Maybe that's why in all the images of "Jesus" ( in the western world anyway) he looks like a hippie in a dashiki.

JCDenton i see you took on that avatar.
Go Bush and Blair

well i disagree based on this
smoking has been proven to kill people
therefore smoking cannabis or other drugs breaks the commandment "thou shalt not kill"

Make of it what you will; but all of this was heap big medicine back in the druggy 70's.
Try finding books about "Don Juan" by a Carlos Castaneda.
Also, Aldous Huxley who recorded his LSD-induced visions (Gates of Perception, I believe) was very influential (among those apt to be influenced, at least).
Any sorty of search on shamanism will yield lots of links.

You might also check out "soma": the dope of the Indo-Europeans and the earliest Indian writings.

Frankly, it's hard to think of a civilisation/culture (in the broadest sense of the terms) that hasn't applied its energies to getting drunk, stoned, or both.
I'd imagine that -unless the religion specifically forbids intoxicants - any religion on record with a mystical facet has involved drugs of some sort.

Try finding books about "Don Juan" by a Carlos Castaneda. Posted by Estragon

I remember reading this book in college. Didnt have to be the "druggy 70s", the following happened in 1991:

We read this book (forgot what class it was for). I had the take that it was a documentation of some very vivid hallucinations written while the guy was on his acid trip. I dont know how the story came about, or what the material consumed actually was, but the rumor started circulating that peyote grew wild on certain trees on campus... someone actually ate one of these fruits and ended up in ICU for a night.

At that point, even if the exploits described in the book looked cool (they didnt seem so to me), I could live without experiencing it.

I heard somewhere that christians and other religions were fond of useing Saffron, as an incense.

www.deoxy.org is usually a good recourse for such info but it seems to be down at the present time.

Just like automobiles have been proven to kill people?

Work related stress kills as well. And so do people with guns.

Dragonrider...to mind came the song''''Hotel California'' on a dark desert highway...................???(Great song!...although i think this song is somewhat conncted with satan..........satanic church maybe??? cant remember......Any how....


Or maybe im thinking of another one that goes like this.......

got it............Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds!!! cant remember who sang this ???

Lucy......L
Sky.......S
Diamonds........D


L.S.D........................

lol.........

The Beatles...........John Lennon....Paul mcartney........(i did a google search......