Do Drugs Have Religious Import? A 40-Year Retrospective
Journal of Humanistic Psychology April 1, 2004 Huston Smith, Charles Grob, Robert Jesse et al. 29 citations
Huston Smith revisits his influential article on whether drugs have religious import. Drawing on personal experience, he discusses how psychedelic experiences have shaped religious traditions and contemplative practices, citing the ancient Vedic tradition, the Eleusinian mysteries, and the contemporary Native American Church. He reflects on why the 1960s psychedelic movement failed to produce lasting social change, critiques current drug policy and culture, and emphasizes the role of elders in society.