Catholicism, Psychedelics, and Mysticism: Correlations and Displacements
Religions March 28, 2024 Mark Slatter 3 citations
Comparisons between psychedelic-induced mystical experiences and Catholic mysticism are often made in the literature, but these parallels raise questions about the legitimacy of religious ways of knowing and the status of theology in academic culture. The article examines the challenge of methodological displacement, where researchers interpret material outside their discipline's boundaries through their own methodology and worldview, a problem compounded when sciences engage theological themes. Concrete examples of displacement in psychedelic and Catholic mysticism are provided, along with corrections to improve dialogue. The conclusion outlines persistent theological objections to claims of psychedelic mysticism while maintaining hope for further dialogue, focusing on whether correlations between these experiences are critically warranted.