Sacred Drugs
August 8, 2025 Gary Laderman 2 citations
Psychoactive substances—from alcohol and cannabis to psilocybin and coffee—are deeply intertwined with religious life across cultures and history. The volume argues that drug use is pervasive in American society and that altered states of consciousness have always been part of human experience. Drugs are often consumed for religious purposes, appearing in traditions such as Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam, as well as in Indigenous cultures and existential religious concerns like suffering, mortality, transcendence, and community. The book explores how these substances relate to identity, healing, and meaning-making, offering a controversial but comprehensive look at the intersection of drugs and religion.