Psychedelic Churches Need Philosophy of Religion

Summary

Psychedelic churches in the United States are emerging within a legal gray area, creating opportunities for philosophers of religion to assist in developing doctrines that justify the use of psychedelics. Six criteria are proposed for these doctrines, with modernized Platonism offered as an example that meets them. This highlights the role of philosophers in navigating the legal landscape surrounding these new religious organizations.

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Abstract

Many new psychedelic religious organizations have recently emerged in the United States. These psychedelic churches operate in a legal gray area, which provides job opportunities not just for lawyers but also for philosophers of religion. To gain legal permission to use psychedelics, these churches need philosophically well-developed doctrines. Philosophers of religion can help develop these psychedelic doctrines. Looking at the law from a philosophical perspective, I derive six criteria which these psychedelic doctrines should satisfy. As an illustration, I show how a modernized Platonism can satisfy these criteria. Just as bioethicists can help in the practice of medicine, so philosophers of religion can help with the legal proceedings of new psychedelic churches.

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