Thursday, April 20, 2006

Religious and Ritual Use of Psychoactive Substances

In the last couple of years here at the Cauldron I have frequently seen negative or dismissive comments in relation to the religious or ritual use of psychoactives. Given their well documented and long-standing pre-modern use in these contexts, I was wanting to know if people here feel that the experiences facilitated by these substances are somehow less important/valid/meaningful/real than those brought on by other environmental factors, such as drumming, chanting, meditation, ritual, etc.?

BTW: I realise that these substances are subject to abuse. I am talking here specifically of the use of these substances within a defined and intentional setting. Not where religion is just an excuse for getting high.

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