Do Drugs Have Religious Import? A 40-Year Retrospective

Summary

A leading scholar's four-decade reflection illuminates how psychedelic experiences have profoundly shaped religious traditions, from ancient Vedic and Eleusinian mysteries to the contemporary Native American Church. Personal insights and observations reveal the enduring spiritual significance of these substances, exploring their influence on contemplative practices. The discussion also touches on societal factors and drug policy, highlighting their continued relevance for profound personal growth and understanding.

Abstract

Four decades ago, Huston Smith published one of the mostinfluential articles ever written on psychedelics, titled “Do Drugs HaveReligious Import?” As part of “The Oral History of PsychedelicResearch Project,” he was interviewed and invited to revisit thistopic. The interview covers his personal experiences, as well as the influences of psychedelic experiences on religious traditions andcontemplative practices. Examples of such influences that arediscussed include the ancient Vedic tradition and Eleusinianmysteries, and the contemporary Native American Church. At the sociallevel, he reflects on factors that limited the effectiveness of the psychedelic movement of the 1960s in producing significant socialchange, the state of contemporary culture, society, and drug policy,and the role of elders in society.

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