Entheogens: Psychedelic religion in the United States, part two
Religion Compass November 1, 2023 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1111/rec3.12477 via OpenAlex
Summary
The analysis highlights the increasing intersection of psychedelics and religiosity, particularly through the rise of psychedelic churches. It traces the historiography of this relationship from the 1980s to recent scholarship, showing how the political, legal, and sociocultural dynamics surrounding psychoactive substances and religion have evolved. This growing interest is part of a broader movement known as the Psychedelic Renaissance.
Study at a glance
| Key finding | The analysis demonstrates an evolving connection between psychoactive substances and religiosity, particularly in the context of the Psychedelic Renaissance. |
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Abstract
Abstract Scholars across the academic spectrum have written about the renewed interest in psychedelics that is commonly called the Psychedelic Renaissance (PR). Psychedelic religion is a major component of the PR, as psychedelic churches are growing exponentially and as people who consume and who research psychedelics routinely contend that these substances induce or occasion religious, spiritual, or mystical experiences. Scholars have noticed the growing association of psychoactive substances and religiosity, and they have addressed this association from a variety of academic fields, methods, and methodologies. Part one of this article (“Entheogens: Psychedelic religion in the United States, Part One”) explored the historiography of associations of psychoactive substances and religiosity in the United States from the 1800s to the 1980s. Part two of this article continues the historiographical analysis of this literature beginning in the 1980s and ends with recent scholarship. Collectively, this analysis highlights the evolving political, legal, and sociocultural capital associated with psychoactive substances and religion.